Housing Is Digital Equity

Why Is Advancing Digital Equity Important?

Internet services and devices have become lifelines in our modern society, allowing individuals to utilize essential services, attend school, work remotely, visit healthcare providers virtually, connect with loved ones, stay informed, and access all of the opportunities and resources that the digital world offers. However, in 2021, approximately 23% of American households, or 28.2 million, did not have broadband access.

As our world’s reliance on technology continues to grow, achieving digital equity and bridging the digital divide for disadvantaged populations becomes more and more critical. The digital divide, or the gap between those who have consistent access to modern information and communications networks, technology, and devices and those who do not, disproportionately affects low-income households and contributes to racial inequities that have long plagued Black, Indigenous, or people of color (BIPOC) communities. This lack of reliable, affordable access contributes to setting Black and Hispanic individuals behind in education, employment, and connecting with community—thus, efforts towards advancing digital equity also crucially address racial inequities.

PHAs are uniquely well-positioned to help bridge the digital divide given that they house and provide services to some of our nation’s lowest-income and most disconnected families. Furthermore, because the households that PHAs serve are predominantly comprised of BIPOC individuals, PHAs’ work to bridge the digital divide also addresses racial inequities that are exacerbated by unreliable, unaffordable, or insufficient access to vital online services. PHAs are committed to advancing racial equity in their communities, and advancing digital equity is a crucial component of that mission.

Unfortunately, there are still many barriers—often rooted in lack of funding—related to broadband infrastructure, affordability of high-speed internet, and technical training that PHAs must surmount in order to facilitate digital connections for their residents.

Read more in our recent publication Connecting Hope: How Public Housing Authorities Bridge the Digital Divide!

Featured Case Study

Unlocking the Connection: How the Housing Authority of the City of Austin Has Tackled the Digital Divide

1.26.23

Published in November 2022, Connecting Hope: How Public Housing Authorities Bridge the Digital Divide discusses the current landscape of the digital divide, efforts to advance digital equity at the federal level, and Housing Is’ past, current, and future advocacy work in this space on behalf of public housing authorities and the low-income families they serve. The publication also highlights examples of how PHAs are leading efforts in their communities to provide internet access, devices, digital literacy training, and technological support for their residents. Most importantly, Connecting Hope offers several policy and funding recommendations to federal decision makers and stakeholders that would help PHAs continue to connect their residents to the digital world and address challenges that housing authorities have faced in doing so.

Read Our Digital Equity Publication

The Role of Housing Is in Digital Equity Advocacy

Housing Is works to broaden and deepen efforts to align housing, education, and health organizations to produce positive long-term outcomes for those experiencing poverty, and our efforts to help bridge the digital divide for low-income families are integral to every aspect of this life-improving work.

Through frequent, compelling communication and connection with PHAs, their local partners, federal agencies, Congress, internet service providers, and other stakeholders, we have strongly supported PHAs’ efforts to advance digital equity for the low-income households they serve and advocated for the tools and resources they need to undertake this critical work of connecting their residents to the digital world. Our digital equity-focused work includes:

Providing Technical Assistance to PHAs

We disseminate digital equity resources, facilitate peer learning, and offer connections to partner organizations’ research and tools via webinars, conference sessions, grant funding, synthesis of other programs and funding opportunities.

Offering Policy Analysis and Recommendations

We have long provided feedback to the Federal Communications Commission, HUD, and Congress on federal digital equity initiatives and funding opportunities including ConnectHome USA, the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program, the Affordable Connectivity Program, the ACP grant program, and the Your Home, Your Internet pilot program. We advise federal policymakers on how to improve efforts to bridge the digital divide and meet PHAs’ needs in this area.

Facilitating Connections to Digital Literacy and Devices

We partner with national and local community organizations to promote and share best practices around teaching digital literacy and securing free or low-cost devices for low-income individuals.

Addressing Infrastructure Concerns

PHAs often face practical challenges in bringing internet connections into public housing units due to the advanced age of many PHAs’ buildings; for example, many PHAs have decades-old properties made with cinder block walls that hinder the strength and reach of Wi-Fi hotspots. We advocate to policymakers for more resources and funding to address these barriers to providing high-speed internet access in older properties, including strongly urging Congress to allocate appropriate funding for PHAs to address their massive capital needs backlogs.

Considering Alternative Financing Models

Recognizing that resources are needed to engage in digital equity efforts, we continue to research and synthesize different funding options that would help PHAs provide digital access to their residents, such as internet being included as a utility allowance. We engage in advocacy through discussions with legislators and federal agencies around funding for devices and internet service, as well as increasing capacity at PHAs to help residents get connected. We also initiate and strengthen partnerships not only with national private-sector companies such as Google Fiber and other ISPs, but also local organizations and communities.

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The Latest News on CLPHA Members’ Digital Equity Work

2.23.23

To The Point Podcast, Episode 3: Ed Lowndes on the Housing Authority of Kansas City, MO's Education Partnerships!

2.8.23

Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh’s CyberBus Rolls Its Way to Arizona During Super Bowl Week

From the Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh's press release:

The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh (HACP) and The Jerome Bettis Bus Stops Here Foundation are making the cross country trek from Pittsburgh to Arizona to promote digital literacy while demonstrating their newest innovation in Digital Literacy Programming – the WOW CyberBus – during the week leading up to Super Bowl LVII.

During their week in Arizona the HACP team will be working with the Pascua Yaqui Tribe Housing Department to promote digital literacy innovations during site visits at several Pascua Yaqui Tribe locations. HACP will promote best practices in digital learning and STEM education as well as promoting opportunities for low-income communities to gain access to free broadband internet.

The WOW CyberBus is a mobile classroom equipped with computers and internet access that offers remote instruction in STEM education, computer science, financial literacy, and business development for students and parents in HACP communities. HACP, Pro Football Hall of Famer Jerome Bettis’ foundation (The Jerome Bettis Bus Stops Here Foundation), the STEM Coding Lab and CNX Foundation proudly rolled out the WOW (WIFI on Wheels) CyberBus to HACP
communities in early November 2022.

“I knew we had to do something more impactful, and the CyberBus is the next bus stop on that journey to create an equal opportunity for all,” says Pro Football Hall of Famer Jerome Bettis. “My partners and I are thrilled to be able to introduce our CyberBus and programming to the Pascua Yaqui Tribe Housing Department during Super Bowl week.”

...

“HACP made a steadfast commitment to bridge the digital divide in our community and has made great advancements toward this goal in recent years,” said HACP Executive Director Caster D. Binion. “We are very proud to now take our act on the road to showcase best practices in digital learning and to raise awareness of the ongoing struggle to bring low-income populations - both rural and urban - online and equipped to succeed in the digital age."

Participants at the event will be offered a tour of the CyberBus and an introduction to the Housing Authority’s Digital Literacy curriculum and Science, Technology, Engineering & Math (STEM) learning mechanisms. Participants will be equipped with the knowledge and tools needed to begin their journey with digital learning, including: Samsung Galaxy Tablets and Free Internet Access (via the Affordable Connectivity Program).

2.7.23

A Step Towards Connectivity and Opportunity in Los Angeles (Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles)

1.26.23

Unlocking the Connection: How the Housing Authority of the City of Austin Has Tackled the Digital Divide

The Housing Authority of the City of Austin (HACA) is one of the leading housing authorities in the field of digital equity, offering several services to residents to improve digital inclusion. Eight years ago, HACA identified that their residents were missing out on the many online services and opportunities due to the digital divide – that is, the gap between those who have consistent access to modern information and communications networks, technology, and devices and those who do not. At that time, when 94% of the city’s residents had an internet plan, only about 4% of HACA residents had one. Today 77% of HACA residents have a consistent very high-speed internet connection in their unit, thanks to a zero-cost partnership between HACA and Google Fiber. In 2023, HACA expects to achieve 100% connectivity for residents by connecting four additional properties, thanks to PCs for People and Indeed.

HACA Community Health Worker Myra Rubaclava leads a Google Fiber crew at a senior property. Rubaclava, who completed digital navigator training with the National Digital Inclusion Alliance and has served as a HACA resident Digital Ambassador. Rubaclava “prescribes” digital tools training for residents who can benefit in their health plans.

Without a free internet service, resources like telehealth, online bill payment, and opportunities for educational and workforce development were out of reach for residents, negatively impacting their abilities to utilize essential online services. HACA’s Head of Strategic Initiatives Catherine Crago shared with CLPHA the work that the agency is doing to bridge this gap in digital equity, the importance of partnerships, and the amount of residents’ input needed to make this endeavor successful.

In November, 2014 HACA launched the Unlocking the Connection initiative to bridge the digital divide for their residents. The goals of HACA’s initiative were to:

Provide residents with free and very low-cost high-quality internet access, refurbished devices and digital literacy;
Build an ecosystem that gives residents timely access to just-in-time digital equity supports; and
Ensure that residents are equally able to participate in online society.

HACA families learn to register for Austin Independent School District’s Parent Portal at a 2019 Back to School event. Laptops were provided by Charter Spectrum.

Under the initiative, residents at 14 properties receive free, high quality internet through Google Fiber or guidance on how to register for the FCC’s Affordable Connectivity Program, refurbished devices, as well as digital literacy training catered to all ages.

Catherine said that providing residents with just the basic equipment and internet connection outlined in the first goal is not enough to achieve digital equity. The second goal is achieved by engaging HACA residents to help their neighbors to use this connection to further their goals and aspirations. The final goal of the initiative, and HACA’s wider mission of advancing digital equity, is achieved by building trust, facilitating civic engagement, and ensuring that all individuals they serve are equally able to connect to the digital world.

To successfully carry out these goals, HACA has partnered with both local and national organizations. Over the past six years, along with 157 IT interns from the Austin Community College, over 120 HACA residents have been hired and trained as stipend-paid Digital Ambassadors to help with the initiative. These resident Digital Ambassadors often act as liaisons between the residents and technology companies, informing the companies of HACA residents’ built environments and needs, while serving as a bridge to ensure residents are informed about how to use a company’s technology safely. This relationship has been extremely useful to residents who reported feeling uncomfortable with allowing internet service providers into their homes due to safety and COVID concerns during the pandemic. In addition to working with the liaison team, Digital Ambassadors at HACA can work on different intervention teams including outreach, research and engineering, and education. All of the teams center on building residents’ trust and concerns, as well as advocating for residents’ needs within their individual teams. HACA’s Digital Ambassadors met with peers in other cities to expand their thinking about how navigator programs could operate and share best practices on how best to serve their residents.

At HACA's 2019 Back to School event.

Catherine said it is important to choose partnerships wisely, especially when considering corporate partnerships. To other public housing authorities looking to engage in this work, she advises to first consider the problem you're facing, figure out who is working to solve the same issue, and what you can learn from other public housing authorities working toward this same goal. The next step is to create partnerships with those organizations who have assets and resources that you may need to accomplish your shared goal. For example, a city ordinance requires micro-mobility providers, such as eBike and scooter providers, to serve every part of the city, not just downtown. In its partnership with Lyft, Lyft provided reduced-price mobility memberships and income opportunities for HACA residents at properties across the city. Austin Energy has invested in training Mobility Ambassadors to teach their neighbors how to use app-enabled eBikes around the city for short trips – and has made the year-long MetroBike membership free for HACA residents. Last Fall, Austin Energy and BikeTexas led a transit adventure from a senior property to a local grocery store – residents learned to download the eBike application, create their account and interact with the digital interface to unlock bikes.

The role of residents in developing this initiative has been critical to its success. Digital equity is important to HACA because of how necessary it is to ensure residents’ rights and autonomy. While developing the initiative HACA focused on residents’ wants and needs and ensured their participation throughout the entire process. With trust being one of the major barriers to overcome in an initiative like this, HACA involved residents in designing the program, through focus groups, innovation teams, and its Digital Ambassador program so that they were able to build trust while bringing this initiative to life. Catherine characterized HACA’s strategy to include residents early on when developing initiatives by citing a method from the Agile Development Theory of product development, saying, “We start slow and small to go fast.” For HACA, being and slow and deliberate at first, carefully soliciting and incorporating resident voices during the development of their Unlocking the Connection initiative, led to a smoother, more efficient rollout of the program that holistically and thoughtfully connects residents with more online services, resources, and opportunities.

PHAs are uniquely well-positioned to help bridge the digital divide given that they house and provide services to some of our nation’s lowest-income and most disconnected families. To learn more about how PHAs like HACA are pioneering this important work, and how CLPHA’s Housing Is Initiative supports the advancement of digital equity initiative, visit https://clpha.org/housing-digital-equity.

More resources:

At Lakeside Apartments, HACA residents learn to use the digital tools they need to unlock free eBikes before a group ride to the local grocery store. Austin Energy and MetroBike invested in bridging the digital divide to catalyze adoption of EVs by low-income residents.

1.10.23

Partnership will Provide Qualifying Akron MHA Public Housing Residents with Free Internet Access