Alta Housing

Can YOU spot the concerns? 🤔

Take a good look at this bedroom. Looks pretty clean and organized, right? Look again. 👀

Alta residents did this exact exercise at our Healthy Homes, Healthy Living Workshop — and were surprised by what they found!

Drop your answers in the comments, then keep reading to see what our residents spotted...

Here's what was hiding in plain sight:
⚡Cords bundled on the floor — a fire and trip hazard
📦 Bins stacked to the ceiling — unstable and risky if they tip
🚪 Blocked pathways — limiting safe access in and out of the room
🪟 Storage crowding the window — affecting ventilation and emergency exit access

At Alta Housing's Healthy Homes, Healthy Living Workshop, residents sharpened their eye for home safety — and walked away with the knowledge (and cleaning kits!) to make real changes at home. 🧹💚

Because a safer home starts with knowing what to look for. 🏠

Hydration check — for our trees AND for you! 🌳💧

With today's heat in full force, our team is out making sure every newly planted tree at Alta properties gets a good drink. Young trees are just like us in this weather — they need extra water to stay cool and thrive! 🌞

These beauties were planted with the help of our incredible partner Canopy, and this photo says it all. From planting day to watering duty, it truly takes a village to grow one. 🧡

So while we're out there showing up for our trees, don't forget to show up for yourself, too. Drink your water, find some shade, and stay cool out there! 🧊

Thank you to Bonnie Packer, who recently stepped down from the Alta Housing Board after 20 years of dedicated service.

Bonnie’s long commitment to Alta reflects her deep passion for the Palo Alto community and her belief in the importance of affordable housing. Over the years, she brought thoughtfulness, steady leadership, and a strong sense of civic responsibility to the organization.

Her service to the community extends far beyond Alta. Bonnie has long been involved with the Kiwanis International and the League of Women Voters, contributing countless hours to strengthening civic life in Palo Alto.

We are deeply grateful for Bonnie’s two decades of leadership and service to Alta Housing and the broader community.

Over the past two years, rising food prices have made it harder for many Alta Housing residents to afford basic groceries. Many of our residents live on fixed or limited incomes, and we have seen a growing need for reliable food support across our communities. To help meet that need, Alta Housing has expanded partnerships with Second Harvest of Silicon Valley , Martha's Kitchen , Loaves & Fishes, La Comida , and Food Runners.

As these partnerships grew, so did the challenge of getting food to residents across all 29 Alta communities. Thanks to the generous support of the Palo Alto Community Fund, Alta Housing will soon have an electric van dedicated to food distribution — helping us bring nutritious food directly to the residents who need it most. 💙

Oversized Randy cut-outs filled the room as the Alta team cheered on Randy Tsuda at the Catherine A. Bauer Lifetime Achievement Award ceremony — a fitting tribute to a leader who has spent decades strengthening communities and expanding affordable housing opportunities across the region.

At Alta Housing, we are especially grateful for the workplace culture Randy has created: one grounded in learning, collaboration, mentorship, and leadership development. The celebration in the room reflected the admiration, humor, and affection so many people feel for him.

Congratulations, Randy, on this well-deserved recognition. 👏🏼

Photo credit: Shelley Fisher Photography

Urban tree planting is an investment in climate resilience, public health, and equity. We’re proud to partner with organizations like Canopy to help grow greener, stronger neighborhoods for everyone.

Thanks to Canopy and the City of Palo Alto, we planted 30 trees at Alta communities during May. 🌳

Huge thanks to our Resident Services team for bringing Alta’s Spring Festival to life. Their work behind the scenes—and on the day itself—made it a true community celebration.

Grateful for the leadership of Tami Moore and for a team that shows up every day for our residents!

Alta’s Spring Festival was a wonderful success—and it wouldn’t have been possible without the incredible support of our partners!

We’re grateful to Xfinity, GreenWaste, Silicon Valley Independent Living Center, Verizon, Newtown Rotary Club, PAPlayers, Kara's Cupcakes, Food Runners SF, The Alcove at Mount Malarayat, Palo Alto Adult School, and for their time, resources, and generosity.

And a special thank you to the many individuals and volunteers who showed up, pitched in, and helped create a joyful day for our community.

Our residents experienced a fun day of connection, celebration, and support. We’re proud to do this work alongside partners who care so deeply about the communities we serve.

The 2026 Merritt Scholars application is officially OPEN! This is an incredible opportunity for students who are passionate about affordable housing to get the funding and mentorship they deserve.

What’s in it for you?
💰 $10,000 Scholarship
🤝 1:1 Mentorship with industry leaders
✈️ Paid attendance at regional conferences
🎓 Exclusive training & career support

If you’re a sophomore, junior, senior, or grad student with a 3.0+ GPA, this is your chance to turn your passion into a career.

Deadline: April 30, 2026
Apply here: https://app.smarterselect.com/programs/108357-Merritt-Community-Capital-Corporation
More info: https://merrittcap.org/merritt-scholars/
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Happy Spring, Alta Housing residents!

Wishing our entire community a wonderful holiday weekend.🌷