Our Mission:

To provide and maintain quality affordable housing for a stronger community where individuals & families thrive.

Alta Housing is a community-based nonprofit that develops and manages affordable housing in Silicon Valley. We provide high-quality, safe housing; subsidize rents, and support services to our residents across San Mateo & Santa Clara Counties.

In the 1960s, Louis Goldsmith caught the “housing bug” and turned his passion for community, problem-solving, and engineering into a mission. In 1969, alongside nine like-minded community leaders, he founded Palo Alto Housing. Their vision was clear: to create affordable housing that embraced diversity—both racial and economic—while ensuring that seniors and vulnerable residents wouldn’t be pushed out of the community they loved.

The organization’s first project took shape on Colorado Avenue, next to Greer Park. There, they built a vibrant 60-unit townhome community with one-, two-, and three-bedroom homes. By 1973, the community was thriving, and Palo Alto Housing was already searching for its next opportunity to make a difference.

Today, more than five decades later, Goldsmith’s vision lives on through Alta Housing. We are proud to own and manage 26 communities, providing over 1,000 homes for families, seniors, formerly homeless individuals, and those with special needs. As a long-term developer and owner, Alta Housing is committed to offering financial stability, fostering vibrant communities, and building a brighter future for all our residents.