Overview
Atlanta Housing (AH) — which provides housing resources to about 22,000 low-income households — launched a digital inclusion program for its residents. The program was created by CIO Brian Benn and spearheaded by Senior Project Manager Ayanna Kennedy.
Impact
Since the program’s inception, AH has successfully completed three workforce cohorts with 29 residents, resulting in nine job placements and six certifications. Cohort graduates have an average starting annual salary of $58,000. These graduates come from a pool of residents whose average annual salary is less than $24,000. The program encourages lifelong learning and students remain eligible to attend additional training to expand their skills.
Advice
The district recommends partnering with internal leadership and private and public sector organizations to provide the three essential components of digital inclusion: hardware, connectivity and digital literacy training.
