As we consider ways to make Bay Area communities more affordable, accessible, and sustainable, we’re interested in data that answers questions about the current state of social conditions – what percentage of San Jose residents are experiencing rent burden, what is the average commute time for people in Oakland, etc. The Bay Area Equity Atlas is an exciting new online resource that tracks powerful equity metrics and guides solutions for inclusive prosperity. The tool, produced by the San Francisco Foundation, PolicyLink, and the USC Program for Environmental and Regional Equity, equips advocates and policymakers with data necessary to scale equity solutions across the region.

The Bay Area Equity Atlas offers 21 equity indicators organized under the San Francisco Foundation’s People, Place, and Power framework. The tool features individual characteristics, such as race/ethnicity and median earnings, as well as unique transportation and housing indicators, such as extreme commuting, housing burden, market rent, gentrification risk, affordable housing production, and economic gain from rent burden elimination.  Users can divide each indicator by region, county, sub-county, and smaller areas such as cities or Census Designated Places. The tool also offers narratives to contextualize the data and inform policy solutions. Each indicator includes a historical description of the drivers of inequity, strategies, “Strategy in Action” or success stories, vignettes from residents across the region, and additional resources. 

The Bay Area Equity Atlas is a powerful resource for GCC and anyone involved in advancing equity in the Bay Area. You can explore the tool on your own or join a webinar to learn more. On July 23rd from 3pm-4pm, there will be a training on how to use Bay Area Equity Atlas data to prevent displacement and protect renters. Register here!