What are the Core Service Agencies?

The Core Service Agencies provide San Mateo County residents access to an extensive network of government, private, and community service providers to meet a wide variety of needs. The following resources are available through the Core Agencies:

• Emergency financial assistance
• Rental payments
• Utilities payments
• In need of food, clothing, or hygiene services

How can I utilize the Core Agencies for assistance?

If you are experiencing homelessness or are at risk of losing housing, the Core Service Agencies can help. Please refer to the Human Services page at Get Help with Food, Housing, and Basic Needs | County of San Mateo, CA to locate your local agency.

List of the Core Service Agencies at San Mateo County:

• Coastside Hope
• Daly City Partnership
• Fair Oaks Community Center
• Pacifica Resource Center
• Puente de la Costa Sur
• Samaritan House & Samaritan House South
• YMCA Community Resource Center

What is Doorway?

The Doorway Affordable Housing Portal provides a way for people to find and apply for affordable housing throughout the entire Bay Area. The listings on Doorway are verified opportunities for active housing vacancies and waitlists that eligible families may apply to.

How can I use Doorway?

Through the Doorway Affordable Housing Portal, you are able to:

• Seeing all of Doorway's listings
• Seeing only listings that fit your household
• Apply for a lottery or waitlist
• Check your existing applications

To get started, you can view all current listings under the "View Listings" tab on the top menu or click "Welcome" to get more specialized listings that cater to your needs.

Using the "Welcome" tab can help Doorway find affordable housing opportunities that best match your needs. On the portal, you will be able to identify:

• Whether you're looking for available units or an open waitlist
• How many bedrooms desired
• Maximum monthly rent desired
• County preferences
• For more specific housing opportunities, you are also able to search up a certain property's name.

Need help with the process?

If you're unsure of where to start, ask a housing counselor/social services counselor who knows about affordable housing. Call 211 for a referral (311 in San Francisco).

You can also view Doorway's Frequently Asked Questions for more assistance.

To improve access to affordable housing opportunities administered through the Housing Authority of the County of San Mateo (HACSM), we use an online portal called Rent Café PHA which is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. 

What is Rent Café PHA?

Rent Café PHA is the HACSM online portal that allows residents to apply for open waiting lists for affordable housing, which includes both tenant-based and project-based assistance.

On the Rent Café Portal, applicants can:

• Register for open waitlists 
• Check waitlist status
• Save and track applications
• View & update contact, household, and income information

What are the different types of waitlists?

The Moving To Work (MTW) Tenant-Based Waitlist is a continuous open waitlist for Housing Choice Vouchers, formerly Section 8. Eligible families can join these waitlists to be able to rent private housing with a rent subsidy.

Project-Based Waitlists are for specific housing developments where HACSM subsidizes rent for qualifying residents.

How do I apply for the waitlists?

1. Go to the Rent Café portal at www.mysmchousing.com
2. In the upper-right corner, select Applicant Login and login with your account information. If you are a new user, register by clicking the "Register" button.
3. Provide the required information, including contact, household, and income information.
4. Submit your pre-application to be placed in a pool for open waitlists.
5. For further assistance, please refer to the videos linked to this page (available in English and Spanish).

Need help with the process?

If you need assistance with the online application process, please contact us with the information listed below:

• Email: csteam@smchousing.org
• Phone: Leave a message at (650) 802-3352 or TDD at (650) 802-3377
• If you are unable to apply online, please call our office and leave a message at (650) 802-3352. A Housing Authority Representative will contact you to discuss options for getting your name on any of our open waitlists.

Please refer to the following videos for assistance with the Rent Café application process, available in both English and Spanish.

• Rent Café PHA Registration Process | English
• Proceso de Registro de Rent Café PHA | Español

Eligibility Information

Intake Process

HACSM uses various methods to collect information and complete the intake process. Applicants can:

• Be notified via email to complete the intake process through the Rent Café PHA portal
• Be sent information via email or DocuSign to complete documents electronically
• Be sent a paper packet to complete and return to HACSM
• Be scheduled an in-person appointment to complete intake forms
• These methods will require documentation that includes, but is not limited to:
  • Income verifications (paystubs, benefit award letters)
  • Bank statements
  • Vital documents (driver's license or ID, Social Security cards, birth certificates)

HACSM may need to send third-party verifications and will continue to communicate with applicants to get the intake application complete and ready for calculation.

Once HACSM has all the required and necessary documentation, HACSM will determine if the application can be approved and will calculate the assistance amount.

Selection from the Waitlist

After applying to a Housing Authority of the County of San Mateo waitlist, applicants must always keep their information current. Failure to do so may result in your name being removed from the waitlist.

Applicants are selected from the waitlist based on applicable preferences, then by lottery. Applicants will be notified of selection and any required appointments or process completions via email or regular U.S. first-class mail.

*NOTE: Applicants to certain programs, such as Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH), Family Unification Program (FUP), Mainstream, or Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) are directly referred from service providers.

Application Approval

If you are determined eligible for assistance:

1. You will receive a notification from HACSM, which is generally an appointment to attend a voucher briefing. Voucher briefings may occur virtually (Zoom or Microsoft Teams), by call, or in-person.
2. At the voucher briefing, applicants will learn their obligations under the program and will receive the Request for Tenancy Approval (RFTA) packet. Once the RFTA is received, new voucher holders can begin searching for their new home.

Application Denial

If you are not determined eligible for assistance:

1. It may be due to being over the program income limits or for being non-compliant with some part of the eligibility process.
2. Applicants will receive a letter advising them of the denial and rights for informal review.

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Subsidy Standards

Subsidy standards determine the appropriate number of bedrooms needed for eligible families of different sizes. The family unit size number is entered on the voucher issued to the family. The family/household members will incur the additional cost for any bedroom(s) above the allocated unit size.

*NOTE: HACSM does not determine where family members may sleep or who shares a bedroom or other room in the home.

Requirements

The following requirements apply when HACSM determines family unit size. The subsidy standards will:

• Provide for the smallest number of bedrooms needed to house a family without overcrowding.
• Be consistent with space requirements under the housing quality standards.
• Be applied consistently for all families of like size and composition.

Guidelines

In issuing vouchers, HACSM will use the following guidelines:

• Head of household and spouse, co-head, or partner will be issued one bedroom.
• All remaining family members will be issued one bedroom per two family members regardless of gender, age, or relationship between those family members.
• Live-in aides will generally be assigned one bedroom. No additional bedrooms will be assigned for the live-in aide's family (if applicable).

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Requesting Reasonable Accommodation

What is a reasonable accommodation for applicants?

A reasonable accommodation is an adjustment made to a rule, policy, practice, or service that allows a person with a disability to have equal access to its programs.

When needed, HACSM will modify normal procedures to accommodate the needs of a person with disabilities.

Examples of Reasonable Accommodation

• Permitting applications to be completed by mail or through an alternate method that works better for the applicant
• Providing more time to complete the application process
• Providing time extensions for a new voucher holder locating a unit because of lack of availability of accessible units or special challenges of the family seeking a unit
• Permitting an authorized designee or advocate to participate in the application process and/or any other meetings with HACSM

How to Request a Reasonable Accommodation

1. Applicants can request reasonable accommodations to HACSM verbally or in writing.

   1. To download a copy of the Reasonable Accommodation Request Form, click here.
2. HACSM will then determine if the request is reasonable, and will follow-up with a knowledgeable professional to verify if the requested accommodation is necessary.
3. Based on the assessment, HACSM will provide written notification of the decision to the applicant.
4. *NOTE: HACSM understands the need for affordable housing or housing assistance. However, requests for reasonable accommodation to receive housing assistance sooner or outside the regular waitlist or referral process will not be considered.

Need more information?

Click on the following links to learn more:

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) | Fair Housing and Reasonable Accommodation

State of California | Fair Housing and Reasonable Accommodation

What is a Utility Allowance Schedule?

The Utility Allowance Schedule is used to determine the total cost of tenant-furnished utilities and appliances. The Utility Allowance schedule reflects a typical cost for utilities for households of similar size and type, and aims to ensure equitable and standardized utility cost average across HUD-assisted housing programs.

Utility allowances range widely depending on unit size, household size, and local utility costs. Families can use the schedule to estimate monthly utility costs when considering housing options.

What utilities are covered?

Various fuel types and utility services, including:

• Heating, water heating, cooking, other electricity (lighting, appliances, general usage, etc.), air conditioning, water, sewer, trash, and other appliances (range and refrigerator costs)

How can I see the Utility Allowance Schedule?

To view the current Utility Allowance Schedule, scroll down on this page to "Related Documents" and click on the most recent schedule.

Project Sentinel

Project Sentinel is a non-profit housing advocacy and service organization whose mission is to develop and promote fairness and equality in housing and to advocate for peaceful resolution of housing disputes for the benefit of community welfare and harmony. Project Sentinel fights against housing discrimination through education, advocacy, and enforcement of the federal and state Fair Housing Laws.

Project Sentinel can assist people that have received an eviction notice, need help with paying rent or utility bills, or are going through any other repeated lease violations.

To learn more about Project Sentinel, refer to the resources below:

• Project Sentinel - Fair Housing Website
• Call Toll Free: 1(800) 339-6043 | TTY: 7-1-1
• For limited English speakers, Project Sentinel offers assistance through Language Services Associates

Legal Aid Society of San Mateo County

The Legal Aid Society of San Mateo County provides essential legal services to low-income individuals and families, focusing on fighting social injustice through civil legal advocacy and assisting clients with various legal issues including immigration relief, residency, citizenship, and deportation defense.

The Legal Aid Society can assist people that have received an eviction notice, need help with paying rent or utility bills, or are going through any other repeated lease violations.

To learn more about the Legal Aid Society, refer to the resources below:

• The Legal Aid Society of San Mateo County Website
• Phone: (650) 517-8936
  • Legal Advice Line (providing free legal advice and referrals): 1(800) 551-5554

Tenant Protections and Rights

Learn about your protections and rights as a tenant at Tenants Protections and Rights | County of San Mateo, CA. 

Reasonable Accommodation Process

Learn more about the reasonable accommodation process for people with disabilities at Reasonable Accommodation Process | County of San Mateo, CA. You can also learn more about this process in the "I can't afford my current place" section under the "Eligibility, Subsidy Standards, and Reasonable Accommodation for Rent Café" dropdown.

Housing Discrimination Under the Fair Housing Act

The Fair Housing Act protects people from discrimination when they are renting or buying a home, getting a mortgage, seeking housing assistance, or engaging in other housing-related activities.

Housing discrimination is illegal in nearly all housing, include private housing, public housing, and housing that receives federal funding.

The Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination in housing because of: Race, Color, National Origin, Religion, Sex, Familial Status, and Disability.

Click here to learn more about Housing Discrimination Under the Fair Housing Act.

HUD Fair Housing Equal Opportunity for All Guide

If you suspect discrimination, contact a Fair Housing Agency. They may be able to help by discussing your problem with you, counsel you on the fair housing laws, investigate your fair housing complaint (if appropriate), and explain your opinions.

A Fair Housing Agency can negotiate with the owner or manager, inform them of the law, help you file a complaint with a state or federal enforcement agency, refer you to a fair housing attorney for legal assistance, and investigate your discrimination complaint for free.

Click here to learn more about the HUD Fair Housing Equal Opportunity for All Guide, and select the PDF flyer titled "Fair Housing_HUD."

San Mateo County residents can access an extensive network of government, private, and community service providers to meet a wide variety of needs. The following resources are available through the Core Service Agencies: 

• Emergency shelter 

• Housing intervention and subsidy programs  

• Food, clothing, hygiene services 

To learn more about the Core Service Agencies, please refer to the information in the "About the Core Service Agencies" dropdown under the "I can't afford my current place" section on this page.

Residents experiencing homelessness can apply to affordable housing opportunities and programs through the Housing Authority of the County of San Mateo’s Rent Cafe as well as Doorway.

For information on how to apply to Rent Café and Doorway, please refer to the information list in the “Learn about Housing Authority of the County of San Mateo Programs” under the “I can’t afford my current place” section on this page.