From the Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh’s press release:
The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh (HACP) is very excited to announce receipt of a generous grant in the amount of $150,000 from the Richard King Mellon Foundation. These funds will be used to purchase a new retrofitted RV to host the agency’s new WiFi on Wheels (WOW) initiative – which will bring digital learning and essential Internet access directly to HACP communities and households beginning in 2021.
Bridging the digital divide is a top priority for HACP. By providing residents with internet access during the COVID-19 pandemic, we have helped residents and families gain access to online opportunities and provide opportunities for work and school. During recent years, HACP has invested in a variety of efforts designed to connect residents of low-income public housing programs with access to the Internet as well as the skills and tools needed to conduct their online activities. In 2020, HACP stressed digital literacy and connectivity as essential needs for our households in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“This is an opportunity that we’re very grateful for,” said HACP Executive Director Caster D. Binion. “We set out to bridge the digital divide in 2017 when we formally launched ConnectHomePgh with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the City of Pittsburgh. However, 2020 has further reinforced the critical need for households of all income levels to have Internet access and this support will allow us to scale up our programs and bring us closer to that goal.”