Last Updated: October 31, 2025
Contact Information
Main Contact: Housing Authority of the County of San Mateo
Contact Phone: (650) 802-3352
Be aware that most listings for affordable housing have waiting lists. We encourage you to apply to as many as possible so we hope you will check the website once a month for new listings. To obtain an application contact the property manager or go to the property management office.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is Affordable Housing?
- The listing I am interested in has a waitlist. How long are these waitlists, usually?
- What are immediate affordable housing opportunities in Alameda County (without waiting lists)?
- What is an SRO?
- How do I find a roommate situation?
- What is a sober living home?
- What is Transitional housing?
- What if I find an apartment that’s available next month, but I don’t have a place to stay until then?
- What if I can afford the rent, but I can’t afford the security deposit?
- I have an eviction or bad credit on my record. Are there still housing options for me?
- What if I don’t meet income qualifications?
- I have a disability. Do I have a right to a Reasonable Accommodation?
- What is Section 8? How do I get it?
- What is Public Housing?
- I have fallen behind on my rent. How can I get help?
- What is rent control? Do all cities in Alameda County have it?
- How does the developer decide if I am eligible for affordable housing and what is AMI?
- How do you calculate your household income?
Housing Authority of the County of San Mateo
Housing Authority of the County of San Mateo
264 Harbor Boulevard #A Belmont, CA 94002
Building Description
Housing Authority of the County of San Mateo
264 Harbor Boulevard, Building A, Belmont, CA 94002
Contact Number: (650) 802-3352 TDD: (650) 802-3377
Email: csteam@smchousing.org
About HACSM Waiting Lists
To improve your 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, seven days a week. The link to the portal is at www.mysmchousing.com
Applicants can register on the portal to be considered for tenant-based rental assistance or project-based rental assistance when wait lists are open.
The Moving To Work tenant-based wait list is continuously open.
HACSM is accepting pre-applications for the Moving To Work (MTW) program, a tenant-based rental subsidy (more commonly known as Housing Choice Voucher or Section 8). The program allows eligible families to rent housing in the private market by subsidizing a portion of each family’s monthly rent. To serve more families over time and to encourage client engagement with self-sufficiency activities, the MTW program has a five (5) year time limit. Program participants that are elderly or disabled may be considered for time limit extensions in accordance with HACSM’s hardship policy. Do not let the name of the program prevent you from applying – it is their primary wait list for the Section 8 tenant-based voucher program.
When you submit your pre-application, you will be placed in a pool of applicants for the MTW program. As voucher funding becomes available for the MTW program, names will be randomly selected from the pool of applicants using a computerized lottery process. Only one pre-application may be submitted at a time. If duplicate pre-applications are discovered, the additional submissions will be deactivated and it could affect your eligibility. The pre-application site will remain open until further notice.
No other wait lists are open at this time but please check back at the HACSM site for updated information regarding any future wait list openings.
If you are currently on the Moving To Work tenant-based wait list (formerly known as Section 8) or any of the project-based wait lists and you want to check your status of the application, please login to your account.
If you need assistance with the online application process, email us at csteam@smchousing.org or leave a message at (650) 802-3352 or TDD at (650) 802-3377.
If you do not have access to a computer or the ability 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 waiting lists.
Here are videos in both English and Spanish with Rent Café Registration Instructions:
English: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wd9XtU_RNAo
Spanish: https://youtu.be/F_h5gGwu2Wc
Rent Cafe Instructions in both English and Spanish are also posted below:
English: https://www.smcgov.org/media/143270/download?inline=
Spanish: https://www.smcgov.org/media/143269/download?inline=
Unit Description
Apply to Housing Authority Waiting Lists
About HACSM Waiting Lists
To improve your 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, seven days a week. The link to the portal is at www.mysmchousing.com
Applicants can register on the portal to be considered for tenant-based rental assistance or project-based rental assistance when wait lists are open.
The Moving To Work tenant-based wait list is continuously open.
HACSM is accepting pre-applications for the Moving To Work (MTW) program, a tenant-based rental subsidy (more commonly known as Housing Choice Voucher or Section 8). The program allows eligible families to rent housing in the private market by subsidizing a portion of each family’s monthly rent. To serve more families over time and to encourage client engagement with self-sufficiency activities, the MTW program has a five (5) year time limit. Program participants that are elderly or disabled may be considered for time limit extensions in accordance with HACSM’s hardship policy. Do not let the name of the program prevent you from applying – it is their primary wait list for the Section 8 tenant-based voucher program.
When you submit your pre-application, you will be placed in a pool of applicants for the MTW program. As voucher funding becomes available for the MTW program, names will be randomly selected from the pool of applicants using a computerized lottery process. Only one pre-application may be submitted at a time. If duplicate pre-applications are discovered, the additional submissions will be deactivated and it could affect your eligibility. The pre-application site will remain open until further notice.
If you are currently on the Moving To Work tenant-based wait list (formerly known as Section 8) or any of the project-based wait lists and you want to check your status of the application, please login to your account.
If you need assistance with the online application process, email us at csteam@smchousing.org or leave a message at (650) 802-3352 or TDD at (650) 802-3377.
If you do not have access to a computer or the ability 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 waiting lists.
Here are videos in both English and Spanish with Rent Café Registration Instructions:
English: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wd9XtU_RNAo
Spanish: https://youtu.be/F_h5gGwu2Wc
Rent Cafe Instructions in both English and Spanish are also posted below:
English: https://www.smcgov.org/media/143270/download?inline=
Spanish: https://www.smcgov.org/media/143269/download?inline=
Restrictions
Unit Restricted For: No Restrictions
Family Status Restrictions: Not Restricted
Age Restrictions: Not Restricted
Pets Accepted: None
Rent and Fees
Monthly Rent or Percent of Income: 30% of Income
Security Deposit: 1X the amount of rent
Unit Information
Unit Type: Apartment
Appliances Included: None
Paid Utilities: None