[brazzledazzle]

>then immediately to start work at client's location in Cupertino or Seattle

Yep. They seem to favor cramming them into the nearest apartments (if possible in walking distance). It's probably optional, but your options are limited when you're getting paid dick, looking for housing in an area with higher cost of living and you're trying to send money home. I'm not saying it's not a comparatively good opportunity for them but they could be paid more fairly.