NAHRO Member Agencies Selected to Participate in HUD’s ConnectHome Initiative
Washington, D.C., July 15, 2015 – Twenty-three cities with member agencies in the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO) have been selected by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to participate in a new Digital Opportunity Demonstration called ConnectHome. The initiative is designed to test the effectiveness of collaborative efforts by government, industry, and nonprofit organizations to accelerate provisions of broadband connectivity to HUD-assisted homes.
HUD received statements of interest from 39 communities across the nation and selected 27 cities and one tribal nation. A list communities with NAHRO member agencies that are participating in the project are:
Albany, Ga.; Atlanta, Ga.; Baltimore, Md.; Baton Rouge, La.; Camden, N.J.; Cleveland, Ohio; Denver, Colo.; Durham, N.C.; Fresno, Calif.; Kansas City, Mo.; Los Angeles, Calif.; Macon, Ga.; Memphis, Tenn.; Meriden, Ct.; New Orleans, La.; New York, N.Y.; Philadelphia, Penn.; Rockford, Ill.; San Antonio, Texas; Seattle, Wash.; Springfield, Mass.; Tampa, Fla.; and Washington, D.C.
Overall, the pilot program initially will reach over 275,000 low-income households – and nearly 200,000 children – with the support they need to access the Internet at home.
“ConnectHome is a great initiative that will support families by improving their access to the Internet, which in turn will help them attain their goal of self-sufficiency,” NAHRO CEO Saul Ramirez says. NAHRO President and Fresno Housing Authority Executive Director Preston Prince concurred, noting that “ConnectHome will be a valuable educational resource for children in HUD-assisted housing.” The Fresno Housing Authority will also be participating in the demonstration.
NAHRO also congratulations the cities of Boston, Mass.; Little Rock, Ark.; Nashville, Tenn.; Newark, N.J. and the tribal nation of Choctaw on being selected.
Join the conversation on Twitter with @POTUS, @HUDgov, @SecretaryCastro and @NAHROnational with the hashtag #connecthome.
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About NAHRO
NAHRO, established in 1933, is a membership organization of 23,000 housing and community development agencies and professionals throughout the United States whose mission is to create affordable housing and safe, viable communities that enhance the quality of life for all Americans, especially those of low- and moderate-income. NAHRO’s membership administers more than 3 million housing units for 7.6 million people.
Contact
Carmen Smith | 202-580-7223 | csmith@nahro.org