Santa Clara was one of only seven jurisdictions in the nine-county Bay Area to receive an "honor roll" rating, the highest possible, for its efforts to provide housing. The "San Francisco Bay Area Housing Crisis Report Card" was published by the Non-Profit Housing Association, the Greenbelt Alliance, and the Nine County Housing Advocacy Network. It examined the 40 largest and fast-growing cities and counties in the region and rated them on 105 different elements related to meeting the housing crisis. Unsatisfactory grades were given to 72% of the jurisdictions.

The City of Santa Clara has many programs and policies designed to increase affordable housing options for its residents. For the second year in a row, City's Redevelopment Agency increased the contribution to the RDA Housing Fund of tax increment revenue from the required 20% to 30%. In fiscal year 2002-2003 alone, this change provided an additional $2.5 million in funding for the Agency's Low/Moderate Income Housing program. While this policy change is subject to annual review by the Agency Board, it will help in meeting the Council's goal of developing a vision and strategy for affordable and market rate housing.

Since 1990, the City of Santa Clara and its Redevelopment Agency have budgeted more than $100 million for affordable housing programs and services. The array of housing assistance provided includes:

• Funding for below-market new homes
• First-time home buyer loans
• Residences for seniors and the disabled
• Transitional housing for women and homeless families
• Shelters for homeless teens
• Assisted living and dementia care for seniors, and
• Rehabilitation loans for existing properties