Bay Area opportunities — live research
Real waitlists and application windows for senior affordable housing in and near the Bay Area, from operators' and housing authorities' own public pages. Statuses verified 2026-08-06 — always confirm by phone before relying on one.
Windows closing soon
Application windows with hard deadlines — do these first.
| Opportunity | Qualifications | Rent | Status | Apply / contact |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Casa Sueños Oakland (Alameda Co.) closes Aug 14, 2026 | Age: Not senior-only; accessible units Income: Affordable tiers (see listing) | Fixed by tier (see listing); accepts vouchers | Pre-applications open Aug 3–14, 2026 Apply via the Doorway regional portal — creating the profile also covers every future 9-county listing. | Apply / info → (323) 649-6402 |
Valley View Senior Homes (SAHA) American Canyon (Napa Co.) closes Aug 19, 2026 | Age: 55+ Income: 30–60% AMI | Fixed LIHTC (Napa Co. tiers); ask 30% tier + assisted units | Accepting applications; lottery for on-time submissions Window Jul 22 – Aug 19, 2026. Online or paper (mail). Includes formerly-homeless senior set-asides (veteran-focused). | Apply / info → |
Pacific Range (SAHA) Livermore (Alameda Co.) closes Aug 19, 2026 | Age: 55+ Income: 20–60% AMI | Fixed LIHTC ≈ $650–$1,900/mo by tier (20–60% AMI, Alameda 2026); ask lowest tier | New waiting list open; lottery for on-time submissions Window Jul 22 – Aug 19, 2026. Online preferred, or paper mailed to Doorway's P.O. Box. | Apply / info → |
The Fountains (MidPen) Mountain View (Santa Clara Co.) closes Sep 4, 2026 | Age: All household members 55+ Income: Affordable tiers (see fact sheet) | Fixed LIHTC (Santa Clara 2026 1-BR ≈ $1,156–$2,312 by tier); ask lowest tier | Waitlist open Aug 5 – Sept 4, 2026 (5:00pm) 124 one-bedroom units. Online application on the property page; also in person/mail. | Apply / info → (650) 966-1060 |
Life's Garden (HumanGood) — tax-credit tier Sunnyvale (Santa Clara Co.) closes Sep 30, 2026 | Age: 62+ Income: LIHTC (fixed rents — ask lowest tier) | Fixed LIHTC (Santa Clara tiers); HUD tier closed | Tax-credit & market applications accepted through Sept 30, 2026 (HUD tier closed) Fixed rents may not pencil on SSI-only income — ask about the lowest AMI tier and any assisted units. | Apply / info → |
Open now — deep subsidy (rent ≈ 30% of income)
HUD/Section 202/project-based buildings with open waitlists. These are the ones that pencil out on Social Security-level income. Apply to all of them.
| Opportunity | Qualifications | Rent | Status | Apply / contact |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Rosenberg Building + Bethlehem Tower (Santa Rosa HA — PBV) Santa Rosa (Sonoma Co.) | Age: Rosenberg: elderly OR disabled, single-person · Bethlehem: 62+ Income: ≤50% AMI (Sonoma: ≤$57,700) | ≈30% of income (≈$375/mo) — project-based voucher; Bethlehem utilities included | Accepting rolling pre-applications NOW — no deadline (city PBV openings page) Paper pre-application PDFs on the page; submit to 90 Santa Rosa Ave. She fits both buildings exactly. | Apply / info → (707) 543-3300 |
Casa de Vilarrasa + Bay Ridge (Benicia HA) Benicia (Solano Co.) | Age: Senior (Casa de Vilarrasa: 80 × 1-BR independent living) Income: HUD limits | ≈30% of income (assisted senior list) | Accepting applications by phone/mail — quoted wait ~2–6 years Zero-tech application: call for the form, mail to Wait List, Benicia HA, 28 Riverhill Dr, Benicia 94510. | Apply / info → (707) 745-6522 |
El Centro Residential Apartments (Santa Cruz Co. HA — PBV) Downtown Santa Cruz | Age: Single persons 62+ only (45 SRO units) Income: ≤50% AMI | ≈30% of income — project-based voucher | Waitlist OPEN — online or paper pre-application ~45 min from San Jose. Sister list: Sunrise Senior (62+), Hollister — (831) 637-0487. After 12 months a PBV resident may request a tenant-based voucher to move (24 CFR 983.261). | Apply / info → (831) 454-9455 |
Pony Express Senior Apartments (Vacaville HA — PBV) Vacaville (Solano Co.) | Age: Senior Income: ≤$48,100 (1 person, Solano VLI) | ≈30% of income (≈$375/mo at SSI-level income) — project-based voucher | Waitlist open since May 5, 2026 — closes when 'adequate number' received; placed by date/time received, so apply ASAP 1 vacancy now + 150-name waitlist for future turnover. Paper/fax/mail accepted as reasonable accommodation. ~45 min from East Bay. | Apply / info → (707) 449-5638 |
Rotary Plaza (HumanGood) South San Francisco (San Mateo Co.) | Age: 62+ at application Income: HUD subsidy — rent ≈ 30% of income | ≈30% of income (≈$375/mo at SSI-level income) | Studio waitlist open Download the application PDF from the property page; contact the community for submission details. | Apply / info → |
Antioch Rivertown Senior Housing (CCH) Antioch (Contra Costa Co.) | Age: Senior (HUD) Income: HUD — rent ≈ 30% of income | ≈30% of income (≈$375/mo at SSI-level income) | Waitlist open (1-BR) Lower-demand submarket than SF/Oakland — likely shorter wait. | Apply / info → 925-706-0874 |
Bancroft Senior Homes (CCH) Oakland (Alameda Co.) | Age: Senior (HUD) Income: HUD — rent ≈ 30% of income | ≈30% of income (≈$375/mo at SSI-level income) | Waitlist open (1-BR) One CCH call sheet covers all their open buildings — main office 510-632-6712. | Apply / info → 510-534-4000 |
Beth Eden Housing (CCH) Oakland (Alameda Co.) | Age: Senior (HUD) Income: HUD — rent ≈ 30% of income | ≈30% of income (≈$375/mo at SSI-level income) | Waitlist open (1-BR) | Apply / info → 510-832-2249 |
Sylvester Rutledge Manor (CCH) Oakland (Alameda Co.) | Age: Senior (HUD) Income: HUD — rent ≈ 30% of income | ≈30% of income (≈$375/mo at SSI-level income) | Waitlist open | Apply / info → |
Westlake Christian Terrace East & West (CCH) Oakland (Alameda Co.) | Age: Senior (HUD) Income: HUD — rent ≈ 30% of income | ≈30% of income (≈$375/mo at SSI-level income) | Waitlist open | Apply / info → |
Sycamore Place I & II (CCH) Brentwood (Contra Costa Co.) | Age: Senior (HUD) Income: HUD — rent ≈ 30% of income | ≈30% of income (≈$375/mo at SSI-level income) | Waitlist open | Apply / info → |
Jefferson Street Senior Housing (CCH) Napa (Napa Co.) | Age: Senior (HUD) Income: HUD — rent ≈ 30% of income | ≈30% of income (≈$375/mo at SSI-level income) | Waitlist open (1-BR) | Apply / info → 707-258-8875 |
Lytton Gardens (Front Porch) Palo Alto (Santa Clara Co.) | Age: 62+ (Section 202) Income: ≤50% AMI — rent ≈ 30% of income | ≈30% of income (≈$375/mo at SSI-level income) | Studio list reported open (~3.5-yr wait) — verify by phone Long wait but deep subsidy makes queueing worth it. | By phone (650) 617-7373 |
Hawthorn Senior + Park Avenue Senior (John Stewart/SCCHA) San Jose (Santa Clara Co.) | Age: 62+ Income: LIHTC/assisted — ask about tiers | Fixed LIHTC — ask tiers & any assisted units | Both waitlists open One application channel covers both. | Apply / info → |
Walnut Grove (Eden Housing) Los Gatos (Santa Clara Co.) | Age: 55+ Income: LIHTC — ask lowest tier | Fixed LIHTC — ask lowest tier | Accepting applications (49 1-BRs) | Apply / info → |
Tree House + Piper Way Senior Apartments (CCH) — Shasta bridge Redding (Shasta Co.) | Age: Senior (HUD) Income: HUD — rent ≈ 30% of income | ≈30% of income (≈$375/mo at SSI-level income) | Both waitlists open Near-term bridge option in her current county while Bay Area lists mature — Redding waits are typically months, not years. | Apply / info → |
Always-open lists & portals
Join once; they cost nothing and unlock everything downstream.
| Opportunity | Qualifications | Rent | Status | Apply / contact |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Redding Housing Authority — Section 8 (HCV) waitlist Redding (Shasta Co.) | Age: Any — elderly + disabled preferences Income: ≤$34,000 (1 person) | With voucher: ≈30% of income at any accepting rental | City's own page says OPEN (trackers lag; last window was 1 day) — apply IMMEDIATELY, then confirm by phone She holds elderly + disabled preferences. Ono is outside city limits → likely 12 months leasing in Redding before porting to the Bay Area (ask if their plan waives it). Selection notices come by USPS mail — keep the mailing address current. | Apply / info → (530) 225-4048 |
Shasta County Housing Authority (HER jurisdiction — call to check) Shasta Co. outside Redding (covers Ono) + Modoc/Siskiyou/Trinity | Age: Any — elderly + disabled + homeless + resident preferences (her near-max stack) Income: ≤50% AMI (Shasta: ≤$34,050) | With voucher: ≈30% of income — and a voucher won as a RESIDENT applicant ports to the Bay Area immediately (no 12-month wait) | List CLOSED — but last window ran Dec 2022–Jan 2024: if she applied then she may ALREADY be on it. Call to check + get on opening notices Historical wait ~11 months from listing. Her single best voucher if the list reopens. Email HCAP@shastacounty.gov. | Apply / info → (530) 225-5160 |
Plumas County CDC — HCV (serves Tehama/Red Bluff) Plumas · Lassen · Sierra · Tehama Cos. | Age: Any Income: ≤50% AMI | With voucher: ≈30% of income (12 months in their 4-county area before porting) | Waitlist CONTINUOUSLY OPEN since April 2014 — the only standing-open HCV list found anywhere. Apply by mail Call to request a pre-application; mail to P.O. Box 319, Quincy, CA 95971. Ask how deep the elderly/disabled queue is. | By phone (530) 283-2466 x112 |
San Mateo County MTW Section 8 waitlist San Mateo Co. | Age: Any (elderly/disabled prioritized in admissions targeting) Income: ≤50% AMI (ELI prioritized) | With voucher: ≈30% of income at any accepting rental | Continuously open — but the pre-application EXPIRES every 12 months (renew in the portal or be purged). Draws are lotteries; live/work preference is verified at SELECTION, so moving into San Mateo Co. any time before selection upgrades her tier Live/work preference ranks locals first, but non-residents can and should join. | Apply / info → (650) 802-3352 |
Santa Clara County HCV interest list Santa Clara Co. | Age: Any Income: ≤50% AMI | With voucher: ≈30% of income at any accepting rental | Continuously open; periodic random draws to the waitlist Registering also unlocks SCCHA senior property-voucher list signups in the same portal. | Apply / info → |
SF DAHLIA housing portal San Francisco | Age: Senior listings 55+/62+ appear several times/year Income: Per listing (some units ~$324/mo) | Per listing — some senior units ≈$324/mo | Account free; per-listing lotteries open to non-residents Create the account once, check weekly, enter every senior listing. | Apply / info → |
Doorway regional portal (BAHFA) All 9 Bay Area counties | Age: Per listing Income: Per listing | Per listing | One profile + common application for listings region-wide Also the portal for the Casa Sueños window above. | Apply / info → |
Alert signups — closed lists that flash open
These lists open for 1–3 days with little notice. Notification signups are the only realistic way to catch them.
| Opportunity | Qualifications | Status | Apply / contact |
|---|---|---|---|
Contra Costa HA email alerts Contra Costa Co. | HCV lottery is BIENNIAL (2,400 names, ≥14 days public notice) — expected within 1–2 yrs. Senior 62+ PBV site lists open ~annually (Nevin Plaza Mar 2026; 7-property senior round 2024) PBV converts to a portable voucher after 12 months. Pre-register the portal account (hacccportal.securecafe.com) now; paper/phone accommodation (925) 957-7085. (The 'Jul 23 one-day opening' in trackers appears to be an error — nothing was missed.) | Apply / info → | |
Sonoma County HA mailing list Sonoma Co. | HCV reopening announced 'late 2026' (unscheduled) — lottery selects 500–750 via waitlistcheck.com/CA085 Key: senior+disabled = only 2 lottery points, but a Sonoma Coordinated Entry referral = a 50-POINT homeless preference usable even while the list is closed. Also watch their 5 Petaluma/Cloverdale senior PBV lotteries (last June 2025, ~annual). | Apply / info → | |
Waitlistcheck.com account Vallejo · Fairfield · Napa · Redding | The portal these PHAs use for flash openings (Vallejo: 1 day in Feb 2026; Redding: 1 day in May 2026) Redding HA has elderly + disabled + resident preferences — she'd hold all three today. | Apply / info → | |
Operator notification lists (SAHA · EBALDC · Eden · City of Alameda) East Bay | SAHA + EBALDC post senior windows regularly (Clara E. Chan Lee closed Aug 3; more coming) Also: ahagroup.click (City of Alameda), edenhousing.org accepting-applications page (updated monthly), achousingchoices.org weekly. | Apply / info → |
Reminders: deep-subsidy (HUD/202) buildings charge ~30% of income — those are the priority. LIHTC properties have fixed rents; always ask for the lowest AMI tier and whether any units carry rental assistance. Disabled applicants can request reasonable accommodation (mailed applications, help completing forms, accessible units) everywhere — operators are required to grant it.