Digital Access & Inclusion ProjectsFederally Funded Projects for An Urban Public Housing Agency

Digital Inclusion Defined Activities related to the

achievement of an inclusive information society.

Activities cover mainly development of appropriate policies, maintenance of a knowledge base, research & technology development, deployment & best practices dissemination.

Authorizations

Telecommunications Act 1996 Quality Housing & Work Responsibility

Act, 1998 Sec. 538 Services to Residents Sec. 511, Article 12 Community Service &

Self Sufficiency Elementary & Secondary Education

Act, Title X Part I Eliminate the Digital Divide, PA 92-

0022,30 ILCS 780/Article 5

Key Assumptions

1. Technology is key to improving the way government serves its people.

2. Government’s use of information and communication technology (ICT) to exchange information and services with citizens, businesses, and other arms of government is rapidly increasing.

Key Assumptions

3. Digital access can be considered a form of utility, e.g. cable, electricity or phone service.

4. Digital inclusion through Chicago’s wireless infrastructures will cover: public safety 700/800 MHz radio, Broadband Cellular, IEEE based Broadband and Metropolitan Wireless Access, and Mesh.

Key Assumptions

5. There exists a huge difference in “connectedness” between people with networked/personal/home systems and people using community access facilities.

6. Public housing residents with incomes less than $15,000/annum lack digital access.

Key Assumptions

7. Public housing residents want digital access & inclusion and will support it.

8. Gaining access to technology will help residents improve job skills, expand their education and become more self-sufficient.

PHA Historical Perspective

Concept Papers 1997-2002 Initial Deployments 1999

Campus of Learners, FIC/CTC satellite sites National Model Searches- 2003

Literature ReviewsInterviews & Site Visits

Local Environmental Scans Resource Allocation AnalysisHousing Site Specific Tech Inventory & Assessment Project Initiations, Deployments & Expansion

ForecastsFederally Directed, Best Practice Knowledge

Transfers

Pilot Implementation The LeClaire Neighborhood Network's mission was to provide computer access to individuals and families in and around the LeClaire Community promoting and developing the community as a whole.

The LeClaire Neighborhood Network worked toward this by creating and integrating training and educational programs for children, youth and adults that provided skills and knowledge needed to become self-sufficient.

The long-term goal was to build up a self-sustaining community resource that evolved as the greater community grew and developed.

Project Duration: 3 Years

Pilot ImplementationLowden

Homes-Sensible/Service Enriched Housing

Access is both residence and center based.

Wireless access point of presence for civic engagement, emergency alerts, public safety information dissemination.

High speed, wireless network access for computer learning, electronic mail, and job searches.

Sensible Homes

Project Duration: Current

Pilot ImplementationTheRightMovesNet Extranet

A web-portal designed to assist PHA residents to find/move to alternative housing sites throughout the Chicago metropolitan area during their relocation process.

Six resource modules:Affordable HousingRelocation ProcessEducation TransportationHuman ServicesPublic Safety

Training of resident leaders and service providers to assist less computer literate resident relocatees. Provided virtual tours of the PHA’s proposed new mixed income communities.

Public access points geographically deployed to 11 public housing development locations within Chicago’s Empowerment Zone and Enterprise Communities.

External Stakeholders: CAC, NEIU, CPS, MCIC, U.S. Dept. of Commerce/NTIA & MacArthur Foundation.

Project Duration: 3 Years

Online networks can help build a stronger sense of community. Services will be more readily available for those online groups and individuals can benefit from information, improved communication, collaboration and lobbying online, as well as, new opportunities for learning.

Benefits

Benefits

Owners can cost effectively deliver broadband to their common areas, leasing offices and individual residences.

Increased Access to Technology and Local Services for Residents.

Increased Civic Participation and Social and Community Connections.

Improved Safety Conditions through IT Regulated Systems.

Value Added/Received TheRightMovesNet

Extranet Increased PHA resources by

$1,795,866. Reduced PHA expenditure for

Network Infrastructure. (cost saving of $400,000)

Activities directly aligned with PHA FY2004 Strategic Plan.

Financed six, 3D visualization descriptions of PHA new communities/units . (cost saving of $76,000)

Heightened federal awareness of PHA Plan for Transformation with U.S. Department of Commerce and federal Office of Emergency Management.

Provided 22 public access kiosks to eleven housing developments.

Initiated PHA resident’s orientation to e-government .

Totaled 6,804 visits. (11/2006-10/2007)

Ross Neighborhood Networks

Increased PHA Resources by $450,000.

Directly aligned PHA activities with HUD 2010 Strategic Plan Objectives.

Developed three interactive training curriculums for computer literacy, adult literacy and health awareness.

Decentralized and expanded access to PHA sponsored computer literacy training.

Established two out-lying, satellite networks w/10 work stations.

Enhanced public image when recognized as a HUD success story and best practices model in 2006 & 2007.