ALTA HOUSING
Alta Housing is a Palo Alto-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1969 that owns and manages 29 affordable housing properties comprising over 1,000 units across San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties, serving approximately 2,000 low-income families, seniors, adults with developmental disabilities, and formerly homeless individuals, while administering Below Market Rate housing programs for the City of Palo Alto and Stanford University.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1969
- HeadquartersPalo Alto, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What ALTA HOUSING does
Alta Housing is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit affordable housing developer, owner, and operator founded in 1969 (originally as Palo Alto Housing) and headquartered in Palo Alto, California. The organization owns and manages 29 properties comprising more than 1,000 affordable housing units serving approximately 2,000 residents across San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties. Its portfolio spans four resident segments: low and moderate-income families (30%-60% AMI), seniors aged 62+, adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and individuals transitioning out of homelessness, with specialized properties such as Sheridan Apartments, Wilton Court, Luna Vista, Casa Esperanza, and Moldaw Residences.
The organization operates four core service lines: affordable housing property management, Below Market Rate (BMR) program administration (through wholly owned subsidiary Alta Housing BMR Services, LLC, which holds contracts with the City of Palo Alto and Stanford University), resident services programming (food security, youth programs, counseling, employment assistance), and housing development including third-party consulting. Underlying technology is limited to conventional property management tools, a third-party rent payment portal (securecafenet.com), and standard nonprofit web/social channels; there is no proprietary technology platform.
Revenue is generated through a hybrid model combining below-market rental income, BMR program administration fees, developer fees on new construction, and a diversified funding base of government grants, foundation and corporate donations, and individual giving. Notable financial partners include Freddie Mac, Wells Fargo, Housing Trust Silicon Valley, Destination: Home, the County of Santa Clara Office of Supportive Housing, and California's HomeKey program. Revenue is not publicly disclosed, consistent with nonprofit norms.
ALTA HOUSING firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- ALTA HOUSING
- Legal name
- Alta Housing
- Website
- https://altahousing.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1969
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Alta Housing is a Palo Alto-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1969 that owns and manages 29 affordable housing properties comprising over 1,000 units across San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties, serving approximately 2,000 low-income families, seniors, adults with developmental disabilities, and formerly homeless individuals, while administering Below Market Rate housing programs for the City of Palo Alto and Stanford University.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
ALTA HOUSING industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Affordable Housing
- NAICS
- Other Community Housing Services (624229)
- SIC
- Operators Of Apartment Buildings (6513), Real Estate Agents & Managers (For Others) (6531)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Residential Affordable Housing Development & Construction (IMAFABAI)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Community Development & Neighborhood Revitalization Housing Programs (FSALAKAO), Housing & Neighborhood Services (Local Housing Programs) (BPAIACAJ)
Keywords
Where ALTA HOUSING is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Palo Alto
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
ALTA HOUSING business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Rental Income: Rental revenue from affordable housing units managed across 29 properties in San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties
- BMR Program Administration: Alta Housing BMR Services, LLC administers the City of Palo Alto's Below Market Rate Housing Programs (rental and purchase), providing compliance monitoring and waiting list management services
- Donations and Grants: Funding from foundations, corporations, individuals, and government grants to support property development and resident services programs
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | BMR Rental Program - Income-based affordable rents |
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | BMR Purchase Program - Below market ownership homes |
| Hybrid | Monthly | Senior Living Entry Program - Moldaw Residences |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels4 records
ALTA HOUSING product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Alta Housing is a nonprofit that acquires, builds, and manages affordable rental housing properties across San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties, administering Below Market Rate (BMR) rental and purchase programs on behalf of the City of Palo Alto and Stanford University. The organization provides property management across 29 properties and over 1,000 homes, complemented by resident services such as food security, wellness, youth programming, scholarships, and supportive housing for seniors, formerly homeless individuals, and people with disabilities.
Product overview
Alta Housing is a community-based nonprofit providing affordable housing in Silicon Valley with a portfolio of 29 properties and over 1,000 homes. The organization operates four core service areas: Affordable Housing Property Management (maintaining and managing properties across San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties), Below Market Rate (BMR) Program Administration (managing BMR programs for Palo Alto and Stanford University), Resident Services Program (offering community building, food security, wellness, counseling, and youth programming), and Housing Development (acquiring, building, and consulting on affordable housing). The organization also administers specialized programs including the Opportunity Fund Scholarship for resident education and a Leadership Academy for staff development.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Affordable Housing Property Management
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 1,000 homes provided to 2,000+ residents across 29 properties
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use ALTA HOUSING
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles7 records
ALTA HOUSING technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
ALTA HOUSING partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Related CaliforniacoreDevelopment partnership for Corso Apartments in downtown Mountain View, bringing 120 apartments for families earning 30%-60% AMI. Construction began March 2026 on Parking Lot 12.
- Sacred Heart Community Service (SHCS)coreAlta Housing has partnered with Sacred Heart Community Service to advance anti-displacement and community development efforts in San Jose. Supported by a City of San Jose grant, Alta provides technical housing expertise to help SHCS strengthen its capacity for property acquisition and rehabilitation as long-term tools for community stabilization. SHCS brings decades of experience in grassroots organizing.
- CanopyminorPartnership with Canopy, a nonprofit dedicated to building and protecting the urban forest, for tree planting at Mariposa Club Apartments. The collaboration involved residents planting trees together, demonstrating how affordable housing and urban greening can work hand in hand to create healthier, more connected neighborhoods.
- Mental Health Associates of San Mateo CountycoreAlta Housing manages Casa Esperanza property in Redwood City while Mental Health Associates provides supportive services for 52 fully furnished apartments serving vulnerable community members. Partnership supported by State of California's HomeKey program and San Mateo County.
- Housing Choices CoalitioncorePartnership to support adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities at Wilton Court (21 apartments) and Luna Vista (15 apartments). Provides case management, resident engagement, health and wellness programs, and assistance accessing community resources.
- San Andreas Regional CentercorePartnership at Wilton Court and Luna Vista to support adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities seeking independent living environments.
- Second Harvest Food BankcoreFood distribution partnership providing 109,000 pounds of food to residents in 2025 through bi-weekly farmers' markets and food pantries.
- Martha's KitchencoreFood partnership delivering 65,160 pounds of food to support food-insecure residents.
- Palo Alto KiwanisminorCommunity service organization that recognized Alta Housing's Resident Services team with the Angel's Award for pandemic response work.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
ALTA HOUSING competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- MidPen Housing Corporation: Bay Area nonprofit affordable housing developer and operator with a comparable portfolio of rental communities for low-income families, seniors, and special needs populations. Highly comparable on mission, geography, and operating model; CFO Marc Garcia and VP Carlos Castellanos both came from MidPen.
- Eden Housing: Nonprofit affordable housing developer operating throughout the Bay Area with a portfolio of rental properties for families, seniors, and people with disabilities. Directly comparable in geography, customer base, and product mix.
- BRIDGE Housing: California-focused nonprofit affordable housing developer and operator serving low- and moderate-income households. Comparable on portfolio scale and mission, with broader Northern and Southern California footprint.
- Related California: Affordable and mixed-income housing developer active across California, currently Alta's development partner on Corso Apartments. Comparable product offering and customer base, with larger portfolio scale and broader geographic reach.
- Habitat for Humanity Greater San Francisco: Bay Area nonprofit affordable homeownership and rental developer serving low-income families in the same Silicon Valley geography. Comparable mission around housing affordability for working families.
Broad incumbents
- Mercy Housing California: Large national nonprofit affordable housing organization with significant California operations developing and managing multifamily affordable housing. Comparable mission and customer base but with substantially larger scale.
- The Related Companies: National real estate development firm with a major affordable housing arm operating across the U.S. Parent of Related California. Comparable product offering at much larger scale and broader geographic footprint.
Regional players
- Core Companies: San Diego-based affordable housing developer with comparable nonprofit and for-profit affordable housing development services. Same business model in a different California region, providing geographic diversification for comparison.
Others
- Housing Trust Silicon Valley: Nonprofit housing finance organization providing acquisition and predevelopment financing for affordable housing in Silicon Valley, including Luna Vista for Alta. Key financial partner and ecosystem participant.
- SV@Home: Silicon Valley housing advocacy coalition working on affordable housing policy. Recognized Alta CEO Randy Tsuda with the 2018 "Bringing It Home" award. Ecosystem participant rather than direct competitor.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
ALTA HOUSING social profiles
Digital presenceALTA HOUSING financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
ALTA HOUSING leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
ALTA HOUSING subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
ALTA HOUSING funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
ALTA HOUSING M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about ALTA HOUSING
What does ALTA HOUSING do?
Alta Housing is a nonprofit that acquires, builds, and manages affordable rental housing properties across San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties, administering Below Market Rate (BMR) rental and purchase programs on behalf of the City of Palo Alto and Stanford University. The organization provides property management across 29 properties and over 1,000 homes, complemented by resident services such as food security, wellness, youth programming, scholarships, and supportive housing for seniors, formerly homeless individuals, and people with disabilities.
Is ALTA HOUSING a public or private company?
ALTA HOUSING is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was ALTA HOUSING founded?
ALTA HOUSING was founded in 1969. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is ALTA HOUSING based?
ALTA HOUSING is headquartered in Palo Alto, United States, in the North America region.
How does ALTA HOUSING make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Rental Income is the primary driver. The others are BMR Program Administration and donations and Grants.
Who are ALTA HOUSING's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are MidPen Housing Corporation, Eden Housing, BRIDGE Housing, Related California and Habitat for Humanity Greater San Francisco. Broad incumbents are Mercy Housing California and The Related Companies. Core Companies is listed as a regional player. Others are Housing Trust Silicon Valley and SV@Home.
Does ALTA HOUSING have an API?
No public API is recorded for ALTA HOUSING.
What industry is ALTA HOUSING in?
ALTA HOUSING's product category is Affordable Housing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAFABAI, Residential Affordable Housing Development & Construction, with a secondary code of FSALAKAO, Community Development & Neighborhood Revitalization Housing Programs. Its NAICS code is 624229 and its SIC code is 6513.