On January 12th of this year, the City of ______contracted with HouseKeys to take over as their Affordable Housing Program Administrator. If you’d like to be notified when we officially get the new site and process in place, please click on the registration button to Get on the Email Notification List and you’ll receive program updates. Thanks for your patience.

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Initial Tasks

Please review the Opportunity Drawing Notification for specific deadlines AND instructions for the unit you are applying for. The information below is for the program in general.

  1. Watch the Introduction Videos and Orientation Webinar on this page (if not available, sign up for one under the events tab).

  2. All applicants and co-applicants must individually take the quiz with a passing score

  3. Register and attend the mandatory Orientation - all applicants and co-applicants - (Events Tab)

  4. Carefully review the Application Guide (on this page towards the bottom)

  5. Feeling lost? Attend an FAQ Session (Register under Events Tab) also click HERE

  6. Register your Household’s Profile at https://www.myhousekeys.com/ to obtain an Application ID for the Program

  7. Organize your application file at home and keep it updated (PDF forms below)

  8. Review the Opportunity Drawing Notice (ODN). It contains important information such as property information, qualification and eligibility criteria, deadlines, file submission instructions and the File Request. The ODN contains the File Request information unless HouseKeys is only in charge of ranking the list and not in involved in processing and underwriting the file.

  9. Use your Application ID to enter drawings at https://www.myhousekeys.com/

Note: This is a quick list and partial instructions; other requirements and processes apply.

Intro Videos & Quiz

These 6 short videos will help you understand how affordable housing works, and key terminology. The Orientation Deck Slides explain the application process. After reviewing both the videos and slide deck, take the Renter Quiz. This should all be done before applying for any rental programs. Please check the “Events Calendar” tab above to find the registration link for the next mandatory Rental Orientation Webinar.

MyHouseKeys

MyHouseKeys is our web-based software platform created to help you manage your program relationships, find housing opportunities, and navigate the application process. You start by registering your household profile.

profile Registration Process

When you click on the button to “Register Your Profile, you’ll begin with a quick sign up form that asks:  Name, Number of Household Members, Total Household Income, and Zip Code.  After you enter and confirm your email address, you will start a Registration Wizard that will have you complete a series of forms.  You may want to set aside an hour to complete all of the online forms. These forms include:

  1. Admin Profile - this is the basic information and address for the primary applicant.

  2. Member Profiles - all other household members who will be occupying the housing unit

  3. Income Profile - you’ll identify the type of income that you earn, information about your employer, and your employment details

  4. Household Preference - this form details any special criteria that your household may meet that would allow you to receive preferential treatment among other applicants.

  5. Household Demographics - this is an optional form that allows us to track our Fair Housing statistics

At the end of the process, you’ll get to a page called the Household Overview. This page summarizes all of the information you entered and gives you a chance to review before finalizing

Application Exhibits

Application Exhibits are special documents that help provide further details about items that you provided while completing the Program Application and gathering items on the Application Checklist. Click on the links below to open the Exhibit documents.

Exhibit A - Explanation of Deposits 5.19.20

Exhibit B - Zero Income Affidavit 5.19.20

Exhibit C - Letter of Explanation 5.19.20

Exhibit D - Certification and Authorization 5.19.20

Exhibit E - Income Explanation Affidavit 5.19.20

Exhibit F - Menlo Park Preference Criteria (coming soon)

Program Guides

Note: The guides may be updated from time to time.

Application Guide (Coming soon)

As an applicant, you must complete the steps to create a household profile, obtain an Application I.D. and enter Drawings for the housing opportunity you want.  Each housing opportunity is given an Opportunity ID.  If you are chosen in the Drawing, then you will submit a full file to be processed and underwritten and the rules are outlined in this guide.

Participation Guide (Coming soon)

Once you are a tenant, you will be required to certify your income on an annual basis. The Participation Guide walks through some of the rules on compliance.

City of Menlo Park Affordable Rental Information

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housekeys

HouseKeys is an Affordable Housing Program Administrator who works alongside cities and builders to provide affordable housing opportunities to income-eligible households.