This year, the Non-Profit Housing Association of Northern California partnered with the Greenbelt Alliance, a non-profit urban planning group, to perform a city-by-city evaluation of affordable housing performances.

Each city was required to submit a report to the state by December 31, 2001, detailing plans to increase the availability of affordable housing to residents. Of 100 cities, 11 cities, including San Francisco and Oakland, failed to meet the deadline. Another 11 cities, including Alameda and Walnut Creek, submitted housing plans that received a failing grade by the advocacy group.

Despite San Francisco's failure to meet the deadline, the report still praised the city for its efforts in addressing the shortage of affordable housing. In 1996, San Francisco voters passed a $100-million bond to create and preserve 2,400 apartments, houses and shelter beds. The city also places a requirement on developers to include affordable housing in new developments or make donations for units to be built outside the development.