Fair Shot Housing

Affordable housing in California: open lotteries and waitlists

California has 395 open affordable housing listings on Fair Shot Housing right now: 16 lotteries, 290 waitlists, 85 first come listings and 4 Section 8 or public housing waitlists. Posted rents run from $613 to $4,248 a month and homes for sale are posted from $189,000 to $661,257. The next application deadline is Oct 7, 2026.

See which of these I qualify forBrowse all 395 listings

Closing soon in California

These have the nearest application deadlines.

Closes todayFor sale

3569 Rocking Horse Court BMR resale

Dublin, CA

Home for sale · Lottery

$661,257

1 home · 4 bedrooms

First-time buyers only
Drawing of Helios Corner. No photo available.Illustration
Closes todayFor rent

Helios Corner

Berkeley, CA

Income-restricted rental · Waitlist

$1,485–$2,292/mo

Studio–2 bedrooms

Seniors 62+
Drawing of Highwater. No photo available.Illustration
Closes todayFor rent

Highwater

Redwood City, CA

Income-restricted rental · First come

$2,000–$3,300/mo

8 homes · Studio–2 bedrooms

Drawing of Hismen Hin-Nu Terrace. No photo available.Illustration
Closes todayFor rent

Hismen Hin-Nu Terrace

Oakland, CA

Income-restricted rental · Lottery

$1,544–$2,953/mo

7 homes · 1–4 bedrooms

Drawing of Sen Lake. No photo available.Illustration
Closes todayFor rent

Sen Lake

Oakland, CA

Income-restricted rental · Lottery

$1,023–$1,582/mo

23 homes · Studio

Photo of Nova Apartments affordable interest list
Closes tomorrowFor rent

Nova Apartments affordable interest list

Irvine, CA

Income-restricted rental · Lottery

$1,017–$3,160/mo

38 homes · Studio–2 bedrooms

Quick facts for California

Open listings
39516 lotteries, 290 waitlists, 85 first come listings, 4 Section 8 or public housing waitlists
Median starting rent
$1,697 a monthThe middle of the lowest rent posted for each rental that posts one.
Rent range
$613 to $4,248 a monthLowest to highest rent posted across rentals.
Price range for homes
$189,000 to $661,257Homes for sale that post a price (50 for sale in total).
Income limit, 2 people
$17,565 to $206,500The most a household of 2 can earn a year. Based on the 377 listings that post it.
Online applications
330 of 395Listings with an online application.
Where applications are posted
access.housing.lacity.gov, housing.sanjoseca.gov, housing.sfgov.orgThe sites most listings here link to.
Next deadline
Oct 7, 202649 listings with a deadline still ahead.
Data last checked
Oct 6, 2026

Every figure is worked out from the open listings above and changes as listings open and close. Each program sets its own income limit, often as a share of the area median income (the middle income in the area), so limits differ from listing to listing.

Apply-direct buildings in California

Besides the open listings above, California has 5,863 apply-direct buildings. There is no lottery to enter: you call the building (or the local housing office, for public housing) and ask if its waitlist is open. What is an apply-direct building?

1,328
Section 8 building
141
Public housing
4,369
Tax-credit building
978
Senior building
299
Building for people with disabilities
See these buildings by city

We count every building in the state. A building can be in more than one group, so the groups add up to more than 5,863. The list comes from HUD, the federal housing department (public housing, Section 8, senior and disability buildings, and tax-credit buildings), downloaded October 5, 2026. It does not say whether a waitlist is open, and some waitlists are closed or years long.

Questions about affordable housing in California

What kinds of affordable housing listings are open in California?

California has 16 lotteries, 290 waitlists, 85 first come listings and 4 Section 8 or public housing waitlists open right now. Each listing says whether it is a lottery, a waitlist or first come.

How much does affordable housing cost in California?

Only 74 of the 345 rentals in California post a rent on their source page; those run from $613 to $4,248 a month. Homes for sale are posted from $189,000 to $661,257. Rents in income-restricted rentals are usually set by a program formula tied to the middle income in the area (the area median income) instead of the market, so they are often lower than similar homes nearby.

What income do I need to qualify for affordable housing in California?

Among the 377 listings in California that post an income limit, the most a household of 2 can earn a year ranges from $17,565 to $206,500. Some programs also set a minimum income, and limits are higher for larger households. Both differ from listing to listing. The free qualify check compares your household with the income limit and rules on each open listing.

Can I apply online for affordable housing in California?

330 of the 395 open listings in California have an online application. Listings here link to access.housing.lacity.gov (265 listings), housing.sanjoseca.gov (46 listings) and housing.sfgov.org (43 listings). Check each listing for any application fee the program states, and be careful with anyone who asks you to pay to enter a lottery.

When is the next housing deadline in California?

The next application deadline in California is Oct 7, 2026, and 49 open listings have a deadline still ahead. Listings without a deadline, such as waitlists and first come listings, stay open until the program closes them.

How lotteries, waitlists and first come work

All 395 open listings in California

The open listings we have here, with their kind of housing and how you get in. Open one to see its deadline, rent or price, income limits and how to apply.

Keep looking

Fair Shot Housing is not a government agency. Listing details come from public agency sources; always confirm them with the program before you apply.