Mapping Different Definitions of Sensitive Communities

Senate Bill 50—which proposes to expand housing supply by increasing the allowable density of housing in certain areas—includes provisions that would delay the implementation of its provisions in "sensitive communities" for five years, allowing these places to opt-in to a community-led planning process.

On May 1, 2019, the SB 50 language related to sensitive communities changed significantly, introducing a more expansive definition of potentially sensitive communities. The new bill language also lays a process by which cities and counties would work with local stakeholders to identify which areas would be eligible to delay implementation of SB 50 and pursue the community plan option.

The map below allows stakeholders to visualize the different definitions that SB 50 currently lays out as qualifying as a “potentially sensitive community.” These include census tracts designated as “high segregation and poverty” or “low resource” on the 2019 CTCAC Opportunity Maps, SB535 Disadvantaged Communities, Qualified Census Tracts as identified by HUD, and the March SB50 Definition of Sensitive Communities, including the CASA definition for the Bay Area region. Users can zoom in on different parts of the state, as well as turn on and off comparison definitions by checking the boxes on the left.

Click below for more details on the methodology used to develop the map.

Methodology