Phoenix low-income households to benefit from free internet access as part of city program

Laura Daniella Sepulveda, Arizona Republic
·3 min read

The Phoenix City Council approved an initiative to provide free Wi-Fi access in public and affordable housing communities.

The initiative is expected to benefit nearly 5,000 low-income households across the city with internet connectivity, digital skills training, broadband infrastructure and other digital projects to address the needs of people living in selected communities at no cost for up to three years.

Where will the funding come from?

The financing for the program was expected to be disbursed from the American Rescue Plan Act funds and not impact the general fund.

Which housing establishments will benefit from the program?

The council first approved an ordinance in December last year to spend up to $3 million from federal funding to provide 10 city-owned housing properties with the services.

However, on Oct. 4, the council requested amending the ordinance to add 27 more communities to the initial 10 after the Housing Department found additional communities in need of internet connectivity services.

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Here is a list of the 10 communities already approved by the City Council:

  • Maryvale Parkway Terrace, 4545 N. Maryvale Parkway (108 units)

  • Washington Manor, 1123 E. Monroe St. (112 units)

  • Pine Towers, 2936 N. 36th St. (156 units)

  • Fillmore Gardens, 802 N. 22nd Place (120 units)

  • Sunnyslope Manor, 205 E. Ruth Ave. (116 units)

  • McCarty on Monroe, 1130 E. Monroe St. (69 units)

  • Aeroterra Senior Village, 675 N. 16th St. (60 units)

  • Aeroterra Family Phases II and III, 1775 E. McKinley St. (130 units)

  • Marcos de Niza, 305 W. Pima St. (374 units)

  • The Summit, 12830 N. Paradise Village Parkway (206 units)

Here is a list of the 27 additional housing communities seeking approval, as federal funding allows:

  • Ambassador West, 345 N. Fifth Ave. (102 units)

  • Camelback Greens, 5102 N. 11th Ave. (45 units)

  • Camelback Village, 5102 N. 11th Ave. (102 units)

  • Cypress Manor, 5726 N. Black Canyon Highway (64 units)

  • Desert Meadows, 16819 N. 42nd Ave. (148 units)

  • Foothills Court, 1606 W. Peoria Ave. (82 units)

  • Foothills on the Preserve, 1525 E. Cheryl Drive (144 units)

  • Harmony at the Park I-III, N. 20th St. between Villa and Polk Street (325 units)

  • Henson Village Family, 840 W. Tonto St. (420 units)

  • Henson Village Senior Living, 1045 S. Eighth Ave. (129 units)

  • La Cascada I, 248 E. Ruth Ave. (37 units)

  • La Cascada II, 229 E. Ruth Ave. (36 units)

  • Ladera del Norte, 11222 N. 16th Ave. (30 units)

  • Paradise Greens, 16001 N. 25th St. (67 units)

  • Paradise Village, 2525 E. Aire Libre Ave. (61 units)

  • Park Lee, 1600 W. Highland Ave. (523 units)

  • Phoenix Starfish Place, confidential address (15 units)

  • Pine Crest, 2601 W. Claremont St. (264 units)

  • Red Mountain Springs, 1652 N. 52nd St. (52 units)

  • Reflections on Portland, 201 E. Portland St. (18 units)

  • Sahuaro West, 1650 W. Sahuaro Drive (59 units)

  • Sand Dollar, 18410 N. 27th Ave. (70 units)

  • Santa Fe Springs, 1717 W. Glendale Ave. (310 units)

  • Soluna I and II, 950 N. 19th St. (177 units)

  • The Symphony, 1050 S. 16th Drive (83 units)

  • Windrose Villas, 1520 W. Peoria Ave. (115 units)

  • Yale Court, 2524 N. 31st St./3034 E. Yale St. (12 units)

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Phoenix low-income households to benefit from free Wi-Fi access