Applying for Affordable Rental Housing

• Apply for affordable rental housing anywhere in East Palo Alto and San Mateo County by visiting the webpage linked here.

• Visite este enlace para encontrar alquileres asequibles disponibles en East Palo Alto y en todo el condado de San Mateo.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the status of my Colibri Commons application?

The leasing of Colibri Commons continues to experience progress! MidPen and EPACANDO are excited and eager to start welcoming residents to their new apartment homes, while continuing to process and interview applicants for eligibility. Leasing efforts in reaching out to applicants on the existing wait list will continue until Colibri Commons achieves full occupancy. 

Please note, however, that once all the units are filled, the developer or property manager will stop contacting applicants. Revisit this page bi-weekly to confirm there are remaining units. As of now the leasing office is making efforts to fill units. 

How can I apply for Colibri Commons, the new affordable housing development at 965 Weeks Street in East Palo Alto?

MidPen Housing, the affordable housing developer for Colibri Commons, is no longer accepting applications for new studio, 1, 2, 3 & 4-bedroom apartments for this location. Applications closed on May 22, 2025. 

I have questions on my Colibri Commons application, where can I go?

• Please email all your inquiries to colibricommons@midpen-housing.org.
• You can also drop-in at MidPen's Colibri Commons Leasing Office located at 1765 E Bayshore Rd, East Palo Alto, CA 94303. The Colibri Commons Leasing Office is in the same building as Jamba Juice, Wing Stop, and Mountain Mike's, and the entry door is below the H&R Block sign. Please call (510) 413-7091 or (510) 413-7064 if you have any trouble accessing the office.

I'd like to join an affordable housing waitlist - how do I do that?

The best way to search for affordable housing is by visiting the Doorway Housing Portal and the San Mateo County Housing Portal, which provide you an overview of which properties have an open waitlist, and which properties are currently accepting applications. For additional guidance on how to use these portals, read How It Works.

How else can I find affordable housing?

Another way to find Affordable Housing is to search the lists of affordable housing sites provided by the jurisdiction in which they are located. The lists can be found on the “Additional Housing Opportunities” page of the Doorway portal. These lists provide the names, locations, and contact information for Affordable Housing properties. Unfortunately, property managers of these apartments are often not able to accept applications because they already have a lot of applications that must be processed before they can accept new applications. You should identify properties that meet your needs and contact the associated properties to find out if those properties are accepting applications.

What affordable housing is available in East Palo Alto?

The City of East Palo Alto has multiple affordable housing projects: