Closing the Digital Divide

Closing the Digital Divide

Posted on January 17, 2017

While access to computers and the internet is becoming increasingly important to succeed in the workplace and school, students whose families cannot afford internet service at home are at a disadvantage as they cannot access instructional content and online learning resources. This is increasingly true in rural communities, such as Newman (Stanislaus County) and Lamont (Kern County), where internet access is limited.

In an effort to close the digital divide, Self-Help Enterprises offers access to computer labs at many community centers located within our apartment rental communities and has expanded free Wi-Fi services to several of our rental communities.

With a $232,800 grant award from the California Advanced Services Fund (CASF) Broadband Public Housing Account, Self-Help Enterprises implemented broadband infrastructure that offers free Wi-Fi to nine apartment rental communities – from Cottonwood Creek in Madera (Madera County) to Caliente Creek in Arvin (Kern County).

An additional grant of $98,900 from the CASF is providing broadband infrastructure to three additional apartment rental communities – Rancho Lindo in Lamont, Rolling Hills in Newman, and Solinas Village in McFarland.

Today, residents in 590 apartment units now have access to free Wi-Fi at home.