Connected for Success, a new Toronto Community Housing (TCH) initiative, aims to increase the percentage of TCH clients with regular internet access. At 20 per cent "internet penetration," TCH clients fall significantly below the national average, which is closer to 60 per cent.
The program is still in its pilot phase, but, when fully implemented, it will involve computer labs at TCH buildings across the city as well subsidized personal computers for TCH residents.
"This program will bring more youth online and give them the tools and resources to experience the benefits of connectivity," says Gene Jones, Toronto Community Housing President and CEO. "A lot of residents don't have a computer let alone internet access so this is great. Now kids can be on par with their schoolmates and assist each other."
Developed through a partnership between TCH, Rogers, Microsoft and IT company Compugen, Connected to Success celebrated a soft-launch at TCH's Cooper Mills Townhouse community early last week.
"We set up a computer program for the kids who live [in Cooper Mills]," says Jones, "We gave them instant access to the internet through the lab. But they will also have the opportunity to connect at home and get a fully loaded computer for 150 dollars and then they can get online anytime they want."
The "fully-loaded computer" will come with educational as well as "standard productivity" software. Users will also have access to free tech support and high speed internet for under 10 dollars a month.
For now, the program is only available at Cooper Mills and will roll out development by development while TCH works with its partners "to minimize any glitches."
But, says Jones, even though expansion won't happen until November or December, residents are already getting excited.
"We get calls, we get emails every day: 'When are you coming to my development?', 'Where can I get information about this program'."
"I think it will be really popular."
Writer: Katia Snukal
Source: Gene Jones, Toronto Community Housing, President and CEO