The Digital Bridge Initiative
What is the Digital Bridge Initiative?
A recent grant award that has allowed Greeley Area Habitat for Humanity to partner with One Economy, a national non-profit, to provide access to technology for qualifying families in the Greeley area. Qualified families will receive a technology bundle, which includes a home computer and Internet service. We are currently in the process of identifying donors to supply printers for qualified families.
What need(s) does this program address?
Based upon recent reports, 73% of Americans use the Internet on a daily basis. But, a usage gap exists between income groups. Only 53% of those who earn less than $30,000 a year log on to the Internet, while more than 70% of those earning $50,000 or more use such technology. When low-income families lack access to technology, they become further isolated from the social and economic mainstream. The separation causes these families to miss out on employment opportunities, academic help for children, and many more resources which are now made available primarily through the internet.
How is this need met? And what is Habitat’s role?
In addition to the computers we will be installing, we will work with One Economy to bridge this divide through continuing computer education workshops through the Habitat computer lab.
What is the timeline for this program?
The national grant approved the Digital Bridge program to run until the end of the 2008.
Classes are set to begin in mid-February 2007 and installations are scheduled to begin by mid-Spring, or as homeowners and volunteers become interested and available.
How you can help
We are currently seeking volunteers to help implement this program. Interested individuals, who would be responsible for the home installations of computers and/or leading short instruction courses at the computer lab, are asked to please contact email Carol Sawicka, Project Manager or call (970) 351-6766 ext. 17. Extensive computer knowledge is not necessary (training provided on-site,) but Spanish language skills would be greatly appreciated.