Dear Atlas users,

The crisis of housing affordability remains an urgent challenge for communities across the country, and it’s being driven by both national and local forces. As our research has shown, ensuring all households have access to safe and affordable housing is key to an equitable recovery and a strong economy built on shared prosperity. The National Equity Atlas and our partners continue to provide guidance and support to those working to build a more just housing future for us all. Here are more updates:

The Shrinking Geography of Opportunity in Metro America

The first report in our series exploring the changing geography of opportunity in American metropolitan regions illustrates the growing gap in access to affordable housing and opportunity-rich neighborhoods for working-class, Black, and Latinx renters. Eighty-one of the 100 most populous regions in the United States saw a decline in affordability between 2013 and 2019, with Black households, in particular, facing an extremely limited and diminishing number of neighborhood choices. Our analysis shows that this trend is reinforcing long-standing patterns of racial segregation and creating new ones. Explore more findings and our policy recommendations — and stay tuned for the forthcoming reports from this series.

Thousands of Households in California Are Still Waiting for Rent Relief

More than 461,000 renter households applied to California’s Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP), staking their families’ futures on its promise to cover 100 percent of Covid-related rent debt. Our latest ERAP analysis shows that more than 45,000 households are still waiting for their applications to be reviewed and 133,707 households have been denied assistance as of July 13. And newly obtained data on the basis for denials shows that the vast majority of applications (83 percent) were denied for one or both of two reasons — “non-responsiveness” and “inconsistent/unverifiable information” — which tenant advocates have cited as being problematic. See our dashboard for data down to the zip code level, and find all of our analyses at the California ERAP hub.

Advancing Workforce Equity in Columbus, Ohio

Columbus, Ohio, has one of the fastest-growing economies in the nation, but our report on the region’s workforce shows that the prosperity generated by its tremendous growth has not been shared equitably. In fact, workers of color tend to be overrepresented in lower-paying occupational groups, while white workers are overrepresented in higher-paying professions. Our research indicates that eliminating racial inequities in employment and wages could boost the Columbus regional economy by about $10 billion a year. Download the full report and explore the other regional analyses in our Advancing Workforce Equity project.

Join Our Team!

Our team is actively recruiting for a Senior Associate to lead Atlas research engagements with community partners, including the development of reports, analyses, and local equity data tools; contribute research and data support to the Bay Area Equity Atlas, and support the further development of the Atlas tool. The ideal candidate is passionate about producing data and research that is relevant and actionable for those working on the front lines to advance racial economic equity. Please help us spread the word!

Atlas Fellows

In case you missed it, we launched the National Equity Atlas Fellowship with 12 visionary leaders. This new program provides intensive, hands-on data training and support to grassroots leaders of color working to advance racial and economic equity. Click here to learn more about the fellows and their work.

Atlas in Action

Over the past few months, our data and analyses have informed dozens of news articles, the development of new tools, and advocacy efforts: Our ERAP analyses and key findings have been covered in both national and California media outlets, including CalMatters, Los Angeles Times, San Francisco Chronicle, San Francisco Public Press, and Politico. Our September 2021 report on the share of federal contracts going to small businesses and insights from Atlas team Eliza McCullough anchored a CNBC piece exploring trends in federal contracting. In addition, Atlas data has been used in the Partnership for the Bay's Future’s Housing Readiness Report — a new tool that helps Bay Area residents track, monitor, and get involved in their city’s housing plans and policies. We also have shared our work with a diverse set of audiences through dozens of presentations, including the 2022 Pennsylvania State of the Union on Latino Health, the CFLeads Community Foundation Equity Network Meeting, the 2022 Community Indicator Consortium Symposium, and the National Association of County & City Health Officials Virtual Symposium.

- The National Equity Atlas Team at PolicyLink and the USC Equity Research Institute (ERI)

Dear Atlas Users,

Happy 2021 from the National Equity Atlas team! While this new year brings changes in federal and local administrations, the devastating impacts of Covid-19 continue, particularly for communities of color. The Atlas team remains focused on leveraging our data capacity to support the movement for racial and economic equity—producing unique analyses, building partnerships, and sharing our work with the field to strengthen local organizing and policy efforts. Here are some updates:

Five Regional Reports Highlight Workforce Inequities and Strategies for an Equitable Recovery

As our nation faces overlapping and interconnected public health and economic crises, now is a critical time to move beyond a narrow skills-driven approach to workforce development and dismantle the structural and systemic barriers that lead to deep racial inequities in the labor market. This week, we released five new reports that will catalyze action on workforce equity in Boston (with SkillWorks), Chicago (with the Chicagoland Workforce Funder Alliance), Dallas (with Pathways to Work), the San Francisco Bay Area (with ReWork the Bay), and Seattle (with the Workforce Development Council of Seattle-King County). These reports are part of the Advancing Workforce Equity project, a partnership between the National Equity Atlas, Burning Glass Technologies, the National Fund for Workforce Solutions, and with support from JPMorgan Chase.

On January 26, the National Fund for Workforce Solutions hosted a virtual launch event which featured local leaders from each community as well as Angela Glover Blackwell (PolicyLink), Amanda Cage (National Fund for Workforce Solutions), and Monique Baptiste (JPMorgan Chase & Co).

Atlas Team Finds Over One Million Californians are Behind on Rent

In partnership with Housing NOW! California, we produced a fact sheet that sheds new light on the magnitude of the rent debt challenge in California and its potential impacts on racial equity, household finances, and public health. Based on the latest Census Household Pulse Survey data, 1.1 million renter households in California—one in five—are currently behind on their rent. We estimate that the average rent debt per household is $3,400 and the total rent debt in California is about $3.7 billion. The vast majority of those behind rent are low-wage workers of color disproportionately impacted by the pandemic, revealing how clearing this debt is critical to prevent the growth of the racial wealth gap and make an equitable recovery possible. Our findings were covered by news stations including NBC Bay Area, KRON4, CBS Local, and KION 546.

Analysis Reveals Large Disparities in Unemployment Filings by Race and Education

Using data from California Policy Lab, our recent analysis highlights how California’s Black workers are experiencing disproportionate unemployment in the Covid recession due to structural racism embedded in the labor market. About 85 percent of California’s Black workforce has filed for unemployment at some point since March 15, which is more than double the rate for White, Latinx, and Asian or Pacific Islander workers. Virtually all Black workers with no post-secondary education (99 percent) have filed for unemployment insurance since March. Immediate policy changes, from expanded unemployment insurance benefits to building worker power, is required to overcome these dramatic disparities driven by racism embedded in our labor markets and education system. Read the analysis here.

- The National Equity Atlas team at PolicyLink and the USC Equity Research Institute (ERI)

1. Communities of color are closer to more toxic facilities: Neighborhoods with predominantly Black residents have twice as many emitting facilities within five miles compared to predominantly white areas. Overall, two out of three people living near these facilities are people of color.

2. Lower-income neighborhoods face higher pollution levels: Very low-income households are exposed to nearly three times more greenhouse gas emissions than high-income ones. Polluters typically target areas where they believe residents will present the least amount of opposition—although, as Richmond’s example shows, these assumptions have often been proven wrong.

3. Pollution exposure is tied to language and education: Neighborhoods where more residents have college degrees experience 60% less greenhouse gas pollution from nearby facilities. Communities with fewer language barriers see 6% lower emissions than those with high levels of linguistic isolation.

​​​​Frontline Communities are Leading the Way

The communities that have been hit hardest by decades of pollution are working to hold wealthy corporations and oil companies accountable, protect our health, and win policies that create a sustainable future. 



Last year, a coalition of environmental justice organizations and city workers’ unions won a landmark $550 million settlement from Chevron to begin addressing the harms of pollution in Richmond communities, and transition the city away from its dependence on fossil fuels.  

But without more action from lawmakers, these inequities will only worsen. Some refineries are threatening to shut down without cleanup plans, or to convert to other polluting fuels—leaving communities to deal with the toxic aftermath. These strategies can help policymakers, regulators, and advocates address pollution: 

• Plan for a Just Transition: As long as refineries operate in the Bay Area, residents will continue to suffer from asthma, cancer, and high medical bills. Advocates and policymakers should pursue a multiyear ‘just transition’ strategy to responsibly decommission refineries, protect workers, and invest in regenerative, community-led economies.

• Invest in Real Climate Solutions: California’s climate dollars will go furthest on both climate and environmental justice by investing in truly renewable energy, including solar and wind production, paired with electrification, mass transit, and cheaper electric cars for working people. California Climate Investments should invest in real climate solutions for people living at the frontline of poverty and pollution, not hydrogen, biofuels, or other refining schemes that sustain pollution for nearby communities.

• Make Local Polluters Pay: Cities and counties can pass polluter tax ballot measures to bring in millions for clean air initiatives and climate investments. Thanks to local organizers and progressive city council members, Richmond’s 2024 ballot initiative forced Chevron to pay $550 million to fund essential services and a just transition fund—providing a blueprint for other communities to follow.

Find the full list of findings and recommendations at bayareaequityatlas.org/research/projects/inequity-in-the-air. 

What’s New This Month

Upcoming Webinar:
Black in the Bay Area: Data Trends and Community Insights
Tuesday, July 29, 2025, 1–2 p.m. PT

Over the past year, the Bay Area Equity Atlas has published the "Black in the Bay Area" research series, exploring population changes and socioeconomic trends in Black communities across the nine-county region. To conclude this series, we are convening leading advocates and experts to discuss our recent analyses of Black homeownership, workforce equity, and occupational segregation across the region. 

The webinar will feature our key findings and a panel discussion connecting the data to the lived experiences of local community members, including both Black Americans and Black immigrants. Join us to learn more about local programs and policies that improve housing and economic equity for the Bay Area's Black communities.

Panelists include: 

• Nikki Beasley, Executive Director, Richmond Neighborhood Housing Services
• Stasia Hansen, Director of Research and Policy, East Bay Alliance for a Sustainable Economy​​​
• Nunu Kidane, Founder and Former Director, Priority Africa Network

Moderator:
Ezinne Nwankwo, PhD, Postdoctoral Fellow, USC Equity Research Institute

Register for the conversation here.

New Analysis: Exclusive Regional Data on Air Pollution

Our newest analysis reveals stark disparities in exposure to air pollution across Bay Area neighborhoods. Inequity in the Air provides a detailed look at where emitting facilities are located across the nine-county Bay Area, and who lives closest to them. 

Key findings include: 

• Lower-income neighborhoods face nearly 3x more toxic emissions
• Black communities are near twice as many polluting facilities as white communities
• Areas with lower education levels are exposed to 60% more gas pollution

Featuring exclusive data, interactive maps and firsthand stories from Richmond residents living near the Chevron Refinery, the report presents actionable policy solutions to create a healthier and more equitable region.

Read the report and hear from the communities organizing for change.

Until next time,
– The Bay Area Equity Atlas team

New Indicator: Policing in Schools

Explore the data now

All young people should feel safe and welcomed in schools. But our new data shows that Black, Native, and Pacific Islander students are consistently overrepresented in school arrests and referrals to law enforcement. These disparities fuel the school-to-prison pipeline and undermine efforts to create safe, supportive learning environments.

The Atlas’s new Policing in Schools indicator provides the most comprehensive look at disparities in school discipline. Atlas users can now explore school-based arrest and referral data by race/ethnicity, gender, grade level, and class size—across geographies in all 50 states. 

Key insights include:

• Black and Pacific Islander male high school students had the highest rates of arrests in the nation, while Black and Native American male students were disproportionately referred to law enforcement.
• Hawaiʻi had the highest school arrest rate in the nation: 36.3 per 10,000 students, nearly 10x higher than California, despite the latter’s far larger student population as the most populous state.
• In Alabama, Black female high school students experienced the highest arrest and referral rates across most grade levels and school types.
• Disparities persist across classroom sizes: Black students faced the most referrals regardless of class size; Pacific Islander students experienced the highest arrest rates in larger classrooms, whereas Native American students faced the highest arrest rates in smaller classrooms.

Creating Dignity in Schools

Communities across the country are organizing to replace harmful policies with restorative practices that keep students—especially Black and Latinx youth—learning in the classroom with dignity. 



In Los Angeles, the local chapter of the Dignity in Schools Campaign mobilized students, families, educators, and community organizations against disruptive, punitive suspensions. Their advocacy led the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD)—the nation’s second-largest district—to adopt the landmark 2013 School Climate Bill of Rights, banning suspensions and expulsions for vague “willful defiance” infractions.

The results were substantial: expulsions and suspensions dropped across all offenses including fights, weapons, and drugs. Citing these years of success, statewide coalitions secured Senate Bill 419 (2024), extending the ban on “willful defiance” suspensions to every K-12 classroom in California. Advocates now call on districts across the country to adopt similar, evidence-based reforms to keep students safe and in class.

Explore the data and solutions here, and learn more about how you can use this tool to advocate for young people at the local, state, and national level.

Dear Atlas Users,

Over a decade ago, we launched the National Equity Atlas based on a simple belief: data is knowledge, and knowledge is power. And that by putting the power of accurate and deeply disaggregated data into the hands of community leaders and policymakers, we could build an economy and democracy that works for all people. We knew that we could only solve problems if we’re equipped to understand and measure them.

We’re proud of what the Atlas has helped achieve across the country, and the last few months have underscored just how important this work is.

Since the new administration took office, it has unleashed a wave of attacks on data — scrubbing websites, eliminating entire datasets, and removing publications that detail economic, social, and health disparities. As Manuel Pastor has noted, this data represents real people and their experiences, making them visible in policymaking spaces where decisions are made about their lives. These rollbacks are about denying the reality of entire communities and giving those in power a pass when it comes to addressing inequities.

As the country’s most detailed report card on racial and economic equity, the Equity Atlas remains committed to our mission. We have always believed that data is as powerful as what you do with it, and we won’t ever back down from telling the truth — especially now.

Here’s what we’ve been up to this year.

Protect Public Data Access by Submitting Your Data Stories

As crucial federal data continues to be removed, our national partners are working to protect public data access. You can support these efforts by submitting your own data stories:

• The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights' 'We Are The Data' portal is collecting stories regarding how you use race and ethnicity data in your work.
• America's Essential Data is collecting stories regarding the importance of all federal datasets.

New Data Snapshot: Workforce Equity Dashboard

This tool offers insights into key workforce indicators, such as job growth, occupational segregation, future-ready jobs, and automation risk, illuminating the unequal ways that labor is valued in our current economic framework.

Check out this short video that details the key features of the data snapshot.

Whether you are a policymaker, community advocate, or a leader in the economic justice movement, this tool offers valuable insights that can inform decisions and strategies to shape a new economic system in which all jobs are good jobs. Please share it with your networks.

Coming Soon: Environmental Justice Indicators

The National Equity Atlas is currently in the process of adding new environmental justice indicators to the tool, including a measure of urban heat islands, flood risk to industrial sites, and tree canopies.

How could environmental justice data support your work? We'd love to hear from you!

In the News

• PolicyLink VP of Research, Abbie Langston, joined Michelle Wilson of the National Fund for Workforce Solutions on the State of Our Workforce podcast to discuss the power of disaggregated data in understanding deeply rooted inequities in the workforce.
• Our report on the state of equity on Long Island was featured in Newsday, highlighting that amid gains, income gap persists for Black Long Islanders.
• The Guardian covered a recent rally held by rideshare drivers across the state, citing our report that found that pay for rideshare and delivery apps remains significantly low after the passage of Prop 22.
• The Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services announced a new online Racial and Health Equity Data Hub, designed to provide an overview of the health status of residents across different racial and ethnic groups. The Atlas is proud to be a data source for this project.

Until next time,

— The National Equity Atlas Team at PolicyLink and the USC Equity Research Institute (ERI)

Dear Atlas Users,

As we close out 2024, we’re reflecting on a year filled with meaningful work, inspiring collaborations, and deeper dives into the data related to equity in the Bay Area. This year, we explored critical issues like housing affordability, demographic shifts, and economic insecurity, while amplifying the stories of the region’s resilient communities. Here’s a look back at our highlights from 2024:

Unpacking the Region’s Housing Affordability Crisis

The Bay Area’s housing crisis continues to be a defining challenge for the region. Our analysis this year highlighted how chronic shortages of affordable homes, coupled with an overemphasis on market-rate and luxury developments, have worsened overcrowding and driven vacancy rates to historic lows. As the population grows and affordable options remain scarce, bold, community-centered solutions are crucial to addressing these long-standing inequities. This issue of housing insecurity also resonated in Redwood City and Salinas, where more than half of households are renters burdened by rising costs. In response, we released two housing affordability factsheets spotlighting proposed ordinances to stabilize rents, prevent unjust evictions, and improve housing conditions. This work, strengthened by partnerships with local advocacy groups like Faith in Action Bay Area and Public Advocates, has underscored the importance of collaboration in driving systemic change.

Exploring Black Communities in the Bay Area

We were proud to launch Black in the Bay Area, a research series that explores the evolving demographics of the region’s Black population. The first installment, Who is Black in the Bay Area?, delves into the complexities of immigration trends, ancestral diversity, and multiracial identity, challenging long-standing narratives of decline. This analysis highlights the region’s growing and dynamic Black community and provides new insights into critical indicators such as income, education, and representation. Accompanied by an updated interactive dashboard, this work equips both communities and policymakers with valuable tools to better understand the needs and experiences of Black residents, fostering a deeper, more nuanced approach to addressing equity across the Bay Area.

Amplifying Community Voices

Our “In Their Own Words…” series continues to bridge the gap between data and lived experience, amplifying the voices of Bay Area residents facing systemic challenges. This year, the series highlighted stories that addressed urgent issues such as homelessness and the need for more inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystems, offering a window into the resilience, creativity, and determination of people navigating these obstacles. By centering these personal narratives, we seek to deepen public understanding of the complex equity issues that shape life in the Bay Area and inspire concrete actions toward lasting change. As we continue to expand this series, we are actively seeking new stories that focus on disconnected youth, police use of force, and other critical indicators that reflect the diverse experiences of our communities. If you know of anyone whose experiences would be valuable to share, or if you have ideas for new stories, please contact us at info@bayareaequityatlas.org.

Adding New Indicators

This year, we expanded the Atlas with the addition of two critical indicators: basic family needs and experiencing homelessness. These new measures provide a deeper understanding of the disparities that persist across racial, gender, and geographic lines, offering valuable insights into the systemic inequities that continue to shape the Bay Area. These indicators paint a stark picture of the intersection between housing insecurity and economic hardship, underscoring the urgent need for comprehensive solutions. By illuminating these challenges, we aim to spark meaningful dialogue and action that addresses the root causes of homelessness and economic instability in our region.

Informing Media Coverage on Equity Issues

Our data has played a key role in shaping coverage of local issues, ensuring that equity and justice are central to the conversation. In April, El Tímpano, a community-driven news initiative focused on amplifying the voices of the Bay Area’s Latino and Mayan immigrant communities, featured our data on extreme commutes in a powerful report highlighting how rising living costs are pushing low-wage workers to relocate to more distant areas with limited transit access. Earlier in the year, Lynbrook High School student reporters used our insights to explore the Bay Area’s shrinking middle class, producing a compelling feature that illuminated the region’s widening disparities.

Reaffirming Our Commitment to You

Thank you for your continued engagement with the Bay Area Equity Atlas. Our work this year has highlighted the interconnectedness of systemic inequities and the urgent need for bold, transformative solutions. As we look ahead to 2025, we wish you a joyful holiday season and look forward to building on this critical work together in the year to come.

— Bay Area Equity Atlas Team

Read Stephanie’s Story

Explore More of Our Feature Stories

We’re proud to showcase our signature “In Their Own Words…” series — a data-driven storytelling project that provides a unique lens for exploring the complex, real-world issues shaping the Bay Area. Through this project, we amplify the lived experiences of residents navigating challenges like unaffordable housing and economic insecurity. By weaving together personal narratives with Atlas data, we provide more in-depth insights into the struggles many people across the region face. These stories highlight the diversity, resilience, and ingenuity of local communities while offering a call to action for regional transformation.

Explore the StoryMap

Unpacking the Bay Area’s Affordable Housing Crisis

The Bay Area’s housing crisis, a decades-long issue, has worsened within the last two decades. This decline has been driven by a chronic shortage of affordable homes. Our latest analysis takes a deeper look at the ongoing housing challenges across the nine-county region. The findings reveal that population growth has consistently outpaced housing development, contributing to overcrowded households and declining vacancy rates. The shortfall in affordable housing has been further exacerbated by a focus on market-rate and luxury developments, which have overshadowed the urgent need for affordable options. Addressing this gap will require bold action and a shift in priorities to create housing solutions that truly serve all.

Dive into the Report

These features highlight just a fraction of the impactful stories and data driving understanding and action across our region. Visit our website to dive deeper into these resources and learn more.