The Connectivity Economic Hardship Initiative is one of the program areas of the Digital Equity Partnership Program designed to meet the state's digital equity goals.
The provision of WiFi cellular hot spots, such as jetpacks, to individuals lacking stable housing where they are unable to have a fixed broadband internet subscription will provide broadband connectivity to this vulnerable population. Partners will work with organizations that provide social services to homeless or transitional individuals/families to deploy cellular hotspots to ensure that this population has access to the internet. These organizations include anti-poverty agencies, homeless shelters, social service providers, healthcare providers, food distribution entities, libraries, and other groups that serve the target population.
Partners will work with the service providers to develop a suite of technologies and devices that meet the specific needs of this population. Grant funds will then be provided for the procurement of that equipment and related service plans.
| Lead Grantee | Project Summary |
|---|---|
| Baystate Health, on behalf of the Western Mass. Alliance for Digital Equity |
Project Description: Baystate Health and the Western Mass Alliance for Digital Equity will work in the targeted geographies to reach residents with the greatest digital divide barriers, including people who are experiencing homeless or are housing unstable. The Alliance is working with community partners to provide hotspots and devices to impacted individuals. Geographies Served: 101 cities and towns in Hampden, Hampshire, Franklin, & Berkshire counties |
| Tech Goes Home |
Project Description: Tech Goes Home’s (TGH) vision is to help Massachusetts become the first state in which all individuals have access to the digital tools, skills, and connectivity they need to thrive. This grant will support TGH in achieving this vision, by expanding its nationally recognized digital literacy programs in Gateway Cities. Geographies Served: Gateway Cities of Brockton, Chelsea, Everett, Lawrence, Lowell, Lynn, Malden, New Bedford, Pittsfield, Quincy, Revere, Springfield, and Worcester |
| Vinfen, on behalf of the Human Services Alliance for Digital Equity |
Project Description: The goal of the Human Services Alliance for Digital Equity is to increase digital inclusion among eligible end beneficiaries of low-income people with physical, behavioral or cognitive disabilities and people who are homeless. Vinfen’s Connectivity for Economic Hardship initiative mostly serves individuals facing housing instability or experiencing homelessness. Geographies Served: 235 cities and towns of the Human Services Alliance for Digital Equity service area, in all counties except Dukes, Nantucket, and Bristol* *one Alliance organization, Riverside, does serve a small number of individuals in Taunton |