How do I get started?
Use the portal to find and apply for an affordable apartment. The listings on this site are verified opportunities for active housing vacancies and waitlists.
If you don't know where to start, ask a housing counselor or other social services counselor who knows about affordable housing. Call 211 for a referral (311 in San Francisco), or get help.
Tip: A session with a housing counselor can also be helpful with the remaining process if your application has been selected for review after a housing lottery or wait list process.
Tip: A session with a housing counselor can also be helpful with the remaining process if your application has been selected for review after a housing lottery or wait list process.
How can I use the portal to find and apply for housing?
You can use the portal to find affordable housing across the Bay Area. To get started, select Listings in the top menu of this page to see all the apartments listed on the portal.
- Click the Doorway logo at the top of this page.
- Select any or all of these options:
- Choose the number of bedrooms.
- Enter the maximum rent you want to pay.
- Choose from a list of Bay Area counties.
- Note that each listing has its own income and household size requirements.
- Click Listings.
- On the Doorway Housing Portal, find the property that interests you.
- Select the property. Under the 'How to Apply' section, you will read about how the property is collecting applications. If an online application isn't available, or if you'd rather not apply online, you can (in most cases) download, print, and submit a paper application. The listing might also include a location where you can pick up an application. Be sure to note any related instructions. For example, you may be asked to include a self-addressed stamped envelope to receive your lottery number.
- In most cases, you can click Apply Online. If the property listing is hosted through one of the following housing portals, a new window will open for you to complete your application:
- City of San Jose Housing Portal
- In some cases, you'll be taken to the website of a property management partner to complete your application.
- If the property is listed outside of one of those portals, you'll be asked to create an account. An account comes with many benefits, including allowing you to see the status of your applications, and faster completion of applications in the future.
- Complete all of the questions in the application and click Confirm.
- Other things to keep in mind:
- Be careful about applying more than once for any listing, because more than one application from any person in your household could disqualify you and all of the household members from that opportunity. If you make a mistake on your application for a listing with a lottery, it's okay to submit another application for the same household members with the corrected information. We'll process the last application submitted. If you make a mistake on your application for first-come, first-serve listing, you can make any corrections once you're contacted by the property manager. For complete information on the management of duplicate applications, see the Terms of Use.
- You won't need any supporting documentation to complete an application, except if you claim a housing lottery preference. Housing lottery preferences give certain applicants priority in the placement process. See the listing for more information.
- Once you have completed your application, and while you wait to hear whether or not you have been selected, you can begin collecting the documents that will be required if you are selected through the lottery or wait list. To find out what documents will be required, see the 'Additional Information' section of the property listing.
- You can keep track of the listings that you've applied for through your account.
Use your Doorway Housing Portal account to confirm any applications that were submitted there.
Note: If you applied online for a unit through one of the following housing portals, and have created an account, you can use that portal to check on your application's status in the lottery:
Note: If you applied online for a unit through one of the following housing portals, and have created an account, you can use that portal to check on your application's status in the lottery: