Affordable Rental Program | City of Santa Clara

Searching for affordable rental housing in the Bay Area can be difficult because housing is in high demand. As a result, low-cost apartments rent very quickly, and they can range from low-income, below-market-rate, or affordable prices. This page will cover new projects in the City, the Affordable Rental Program, and where else you can find housing.

Newest Affordable Housing Projects

These new projects may have upcoming openings for interest lists, waitlists, or applications for new affordable rentals. The following defines the differences between these common listing terms:

Application: the formal request to apply for an available unit.
Waitlist: This list is created to call applicants about any openings in the future when there are no available units.
Interest list: when you sign up to receive information about a property’s development.

For some properties listed below, the initial application period has since passed. Contact the leasing offices directly for potential openings. Their websites are linked in the sections. Please keep in mind the City’s local preference policy and virtual lottery system when applying.

Alba Apartments – Apply by Nov 6

Mainline North

Orlo

Passero

The Lafayette

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Affordable Rental Program Overview

For new and existing affordable rental opportunities, there are many factors you have to keep in mind. The following information applies when searching in our City.

Eligibility: Income and Rent Limits

Utility Allowances

Understanding the Local Preference Policy

The City gives priority to households that live and work in the City of Santa Clara.

This preference system ranks applicants based on priority levels. Households that meet priority level 1 will be reviewed first, then priority level 2, and so on. Priority will be checked during the virtual lottery for applications and verified before occupancy.

These are the four priority levels for the City's preference system:

Priority Level	Requirements
1st Priority Level: Lives AND Works	At least one household member who currently: lives within the City limits for at least the past six months at the time of application. operates a business, is employed by a business, public agency, or quasi-public agency in the City for at least the past six months at the time of application.
2nd Priority: Lives Only	At least one household member who currently lives within the City limits for at least the past six months at the time of application.
3rd Priority: Works Only	At least one household member who currently operates a business, is employed by a business, public agency, or quasi-public agency in the City for at least the past six months at the time of application.
4th Priority: All Others	Any other qualified applicant household, regardless of residency or employment.

Countywide Affordable Housing

These organizations offer easy-to-use websites showing recent affordable housing listings throughout the Bay Area and are updated regularly:

Our Affordable Housing Resource Guide (PDF) also lists existing rentals in the City, options for different housing needs, and other local organizations. Please note the following:

This is not an all-inclusive guide, as there may be other resources available.
While every effort is made to keep this listing up to date, some information may not be current.
Many of the properties listed manage their own waitlists. Please contact them directly to check if they are accepting waitlist applications.

The next sections have tips to help you get organized and easily search for housing that meets your needs.

Tips for Finding Affordable Rentals

Start early. It can take months to apply for and sign a lease for housing.
Understand what you are eligible for.
Think about your household size and your total annual household income because they determine what you are eligible for. If you are unsure, ask the property manager or use the City’s Affordable Housing Search worksheet.
Cast a wide net. Keep an open mind about location and community type.
- Look for housing in nearby cities.
- Consider 55+ housing if you or a household member qualifies.
Be persistent. If nobody answers:
- Call again at different times.
- Visit the office during regular business hours.
Get on the waitlist.
Waitlists are typically used to contact applicants when an apartment becomes available. Get onto several because you never know what will open first.
Act fast! Vacant apartments lease up quickly—especially the extremely low-income apartments.
Ask for help.
The property manager and/or nonprofit organizations can help you fill out the application or get a paper copy of the application. Be prepared to pay an application fee and deposit.

Tips When Calling Properties

Directly contact the property you’re interested in to ask about their application or waitlist process. We recommend calling for a higher chance of responses. Here are some tips and questions to ask when calling:

If no one answers the phone, try calling again at different times and days. Do not assume that property managers will return your call.
If you cannot reach the property manager by phone, visit the leasing office during business hours. Most leasing office business hours may be found online.
Below are some questions to ask in your search:
- Do you have a vacancy for a unit?
- What is the monthly rent?
- Do you have maximum/minimum income requirements?
- Do you have other requirements?
- What type of supplemental income do you accept?
- Do you maintain a waitlist?
- How long is your waitlist, and how do I get on the waitlist?
- If the waitlist is closed, when is it going to be open?
- How do I apply?