About

The Housing Readiness Report draws on data from the U.S. Census, California Department of Housing and Community Development, MTC/ABAG, Public Advocates and the Bay Area Equity Atlas to help users track how jurisdictions are meeting their housing goals. It combines demographic and housing conditions data with information on local housing policies, permitting progress, and fair housing strategies—making it easier to assess how jurisdictions are advancing equitable outcomes for their communities.

The Housing Readiness Report assesses whether Bay Area jurisdictions are following through on their state-mandated Housing Elements and advancing equitable housing outcomes. Each city or county is evaluated using the following data:

• Affordable Housing Permitting: We track how many new homes—especially very low- and low-income units—have been permitted compared to each jurisdiction’s RHNA targets for the 6th Cycle (2023–2031).
• Policy Commitments: We show the housing programs cities have adopted in their Housing Elements to preserve affordable housing, protect tenants, and prevent displacement—including programs identified as Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH).
• Implementation Progress: We highlight whether jurisdictions have submitted Annual Progress Reports (APRs) to the state and are reporting on their implementation efforts, as required by law.
• Community Conditions: We include contextual data — such as rent burden, gentrification risk, and neighborhood opportunity — to show how housing inequities vary across communities and why tailored policy responses are essential.

In the Bay Area, the housing crisis doesn’t affect everyone equally. Communities of color—especially Black, Latine, and Native American households—face the highest rates of housing insecurity and displacement. These inequities are rooted in decades of exclusionary policies like redlining, zoning restrictions, and disinvestment.

The Housing Readiness Report helps uncover where those inequities persist today by providing data on rent burden, gentrification risk, and access to opportunity. It also highlights whether local housing plans include the policies needed to protect vulnerable residents, prevent further harm, and build a more equitable future.

The Housing Readiness Report pulls data directly from trusted sources like HCD, ABAG/MTC, Public Advocates, and the Bay Area Equity Atlas. Because most of our datasets are connected to source platforms or public repositories, the information displayed on the site is updated in real time as those sources are updated.

Some datasets—such as Annual Progress Reports or housing policy data—are updated on a regular schedule (usually annually) based on state reporting timelines. We aim to refresh those datasets as soon as new information becomes available.