Beginning this summer, ConnectHome will expand to more than 100 communities, with the goal of connecting 350,000 people living in the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)-assisted housing by 2020. EveryoneOn, the current nonprofit lead for HUD’s successful ConnectHome pilot which was created to bridge the digital divide in 28 pilot communities, will lead this expansion effort. ConnectHome will be rebranded as “ConnectHome Nation” to capture its new national scope. “We are excited about this opportunity to expand the successful work initiated by HUD and already underway in communities across the United States. In a little over a year, the ConnectHome pilot communities have successfully worked to connect thousands of low-income people to the life-changing power that the internet brings,” said Chike Aguh, EveryoneOn’s chief executive officer. “As we move forward with this expansion, we are hopeful that even more people in communities across the country will be able to experience social and economic opportunities provided by online access. For the new communities joining ConnectHome Nation, we are excited to welcome you and thank you for your commitment to digital inclusion for all.”
ConnectHome Nation expects to welcome more than 100 communities into ConnectHome Nation. These communities will be diverse in both size and geography.
In addition, the current ConnectHome pilot communities will have the opportunity to serve as models and mentors for communities participating in ConnectHome Nation. All communities, both pilot and new, will be involved in a community of practice, which will include mentorship meetings and a yearly ConnectHome Nation summit.
As part of this expansion, new communities will have access to the following
- Access to stakeholder commitments;
- Continued assistance with stakeholder negotiation by EveryoneOn as communities seek to add new stakeholders to the initiative;
- Monthly webinars with EveryoneOn for help with local efforts and best practices;
- Access to a mentorship community to help guide progress; and,
- Access to the Digital ConnectHome Platform, which will include resources and collateral created for ConnectHome and would serve as a space for communities to connect, ask questions, and collect data.
ConnectHome Nation will create a governing board composed of leaders from both the public and private sectors who are committed to the ConnectHome initiative and its mission.
The launch in the new communities is tentatively scheduled for July 2017.
To learn more, visit www.everyoneon.org/connecthomenation.