Ventura Housing Authority awarded a competitive federal grant to address digital equity


Ventura, CA — The Housing Authority of the City of San Buenaventura (HACSB) is pleased to announce that it has been awarded $87,000 as part of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Affordable Connectivity Outreach Grant Program. The goal of this grant is to drive awareness and enrollment in the country’s newest and largest broadband affordability program in the nation’s history. The HACSB was selected from 350 applicants in a nationwide pool, and it is the only agency in Ventura County to receive this award.

The HACSB has identified closing the digital divide as part of its mission, and the COVID-19 global pandemic surfaced the inequity of access to broadband.  It was seen directly with our children. The HACSB believes that accessing the internet is a human right and will continue to strive to close the digital equity gap in our communities. “In today's world, where broadband is essential for work, school, healthcare, and more, we must provide access to these vital services to all our residents,” said Francisco Camarena, Deputy Director of Information Technology (Camarena).

Adrian Ponce, a Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA) intern with the HACSB, was the lead staff member in identifying this grant and securing this grant opportunity. In his time with us, Adrian has witnessed firsthand the digital disparity between affordable housing communities and the rest of Ventura County. With the help of grants like the ACP Outreach Program, we aim to bridge this gap by raising awareness and aiding residents in accessing benefits that will enable them to subscribe to internet, mobile, or other broadband services that were previously unaffordable.

The ACP program was created by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which provides a discount of up to $30 per month toward internet service for eligible households and up to $75 per month for households on qualifying Tribal lands. In addition, eligible households can also receive a one-time discount of up to $100 to purchase a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet from participating providers if they contribute more than $10 and less than $50 toward the purchase price.

To learn more about the Housing Authority of the City of San Buenaventura, visit hacityventura.org.

To learn more about the ACP program, visit FCC.gov.

ABOUT THE HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF SAN BUENAVENTURA

The HACSB is the largest residential landlord in the City of Ventura, with 219 public housing units, more than 1,480 Housing Choice Vouchers, and 821 nonprofit affordable rental units. The agency is actively working to increase the supply of affordable housing, improve the quality of life, and help its residents achieve self-sufficiency and/ or age in place.

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