Together, community easing digital divide
As the global pandemic triggered distress in San Antonio and across the world, it further exposed the socioeconomic disparities that exist in our city, particularly among the poorest of the poor.
In a PRE-COVID-19 world, the lack of reliable internet access, computers and training already hindered families’ ability to participate in the local and global economy. In this COVID-19 era, the digital barrier has been devastating, cutting their access to everything from online learning to telehealth services.
According to the Digital Inclusion Alliance San Antonio, 1 in 4 households on the South, East and West sides — where economic mobility has been stifled, leading to generational poverty — do not have access to the internet.
Amid it all, San Antonio Housing Authority, or SAHA, residents have found themselves in uncharted territory.
In a city named the poorest, largest metropolitan city in America, digital access is key. The lack of broadband connectivity should be considered a basic utility, like water or electricity. We would take emergency action if one of our San Antonio neighborhoods did not have access to water or electricity. We should have the same sense of urgency for internet access.
The link between low internet connectivity numbers and marginalized communities is indisputable. The Brookings Institution noted in its recent report that broadband is the country’s most inequitable infrastructure and those least likely to have broadband in America are lowincome communities of color.
The San Antonio Housing Authority has nearly 6,800 students in its public housing communities, many of whom live in the near East Side and West Side and attend public school where only 54.4 percent of students have access to a computer.
We commend the school districts that distributed laptops to families for online education. While children are growing up with smart devices as a way of life, school districts were forced to bring in new teaching platforms unfamiliar to some families who were suddenly given the role of teacher, without the basic knowledge of devices or the internet.
The San Antonio Housing Authority has been bridging the digital divide for low-income individuals and families since 2015 with the formation of Connecthomesa, a partnership between SAHA, the private sector and the federal government. It was spearheaded by Julián Castro, former U.S. Housing and Urban Development secretary, and former San Antonio mayor.
Through Connecthomesa, about 4,000 SAHA residents have completed more than 18,000 hours of computer literacy training. Nearly 1,000 residents have access to a hot spot or free Wi-fi. Connecthomesa is a national model of best practices.
The housing authority also garnered a $100,000 grant in the Mozilla and National Science Foundation’s Smart Community Challenge for the construction of SMARTI, a prototype that will use solar energy to access a local network and distribute free Wi-fi to Cassiano Homes. When completed, all 499 units in the community, approximately 1,800 individuals across 50 acres, will have access to free Wi-fi.
Yet, we have so much more to do.
At the peak of the pandemic, SAHA joined forces with VIA Metropolitan Transit to bring mobile hot spots near several SAHA communities where digital connectivity is extremely limited and where households on average make less than $10,000 annually.
San Antonio Housing Authority’s partnerships with
Google, Goodwill San Antonio and USAA are instrumental in getting all our families connected to the internet, devices and training to achieve academic success and, ultimately, economic mobility. Partners such as the San Antonio Museum of Science and Technology, Boeing and Port San Antonio serve SAHA students through the Geekbus STEM Club.
Recently, the SAHA board approved $4 million to expand Wi-fi to SAHA residents. Paired with the city of San Antonio’s $27 million allocation for digital inclusion, this is a huge step in the right direction.
Last month, the COVID-19 Community Action Social Services Working Group, which I am proud to serve on, recommended forming a digital inclusion consortium with area partners.
The need is growing rapidly, requiring this newly formed consortium and other partnerships to now look at using the recently approved funding and begin the difficult task of implementation. We invite others in our community to join SAHA and the city of San Antonio in addressing this significant challenge.
If the last few weeks are any indication of how San Antonio can mobilize in the best interest of the community, I’m certain, by working together, we can bring digital access to our most underserved and vulnerable neighbors.
Let’s connect all — #Connect Todos.
Ana Margarita “Cha” Guzman serves is chair of the SAHA board of commissioners and a member of San Antonio’s COVID-19 Community Action Working Group.