Assessment of HUD-Funded or Designated Neighborhood Networks Centers and Other Computer Centers within Public Housing and Multifamily Housing Properties

Welcome and Background Information
Welcome to the Assessment of HUD-Funded or Designated Neighborhood Networks (NN) Centers and
Other Computer Labs within Public and Assisted Housing.
This survey is being conducted by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD),
Offices of Public Housing Investments (OPHI) and Multifamily Housing Programs (MF) in collaboration
with the Office of Policy Development and Research (PD&R), which provides reliable and objective
research to help the Department make policy decisions. Responses will NOT be used for compliance
monitoring.
Thank you for participating in our survey. Your feedback is important.
I. Background
Neighborhood Networks (NN) centers are computer centers that were either designated as such by
MF or funded by Public Housing grants and located in Public Housing Agencies (PHA) and Multifamily
(MF) Housing properties.
A. The Multifamily Neighborhood Networks Initiative:
In 1995, the Office of MF Housing created the NN Initiative with the goal of preparing residents for
jobs in a computer-based economy. With HUD approval, property owners could use property funds
to establish and operate centers. At its height, HUD estimated that there were over 1,400 NN centers
in Multifamily properties around the country.
B. The Public Housing Neighborhood Networks Program:
In 2001, Congress created a companion NN program for Public Housing (PH). From 2002-2007,
through appropriations, HUD made over 300 NN grants totaling $66 million. Also, Congress created a
NN grant program for HOPE VI grantees in 2002 and 2003. After this time period, the establishment of
NN centers was required of any HOPE VI grantee. After appropriations ended, Congress amended the
HUD statute to allow Capital and Operating funds to be used specifically for the establishment and
operation of NN centers (please see Section 9 (d) Capital Fund of the 1937 Housing Act as amended,
subparagraph (1)(E) and Section 9 (e) Operating Fund of the 1937 Housing Act as amended,
subparagraph (1)(K).
C. Purpose of Survey:
Today's digital economy requires access to computers, the Internet and related training in order to
fully participate and benefit from the opportunities and information available online. HUD is interested
in understanding how its investments in NN centers have fared and the extent to which residents
today have access to digital tools and training. To this end, this survey will ask about:
1. The current status of NN centers located in both PH and MF properties around the country;
2. Whether PHAs and MF owners may have established computer centers outside the auspices of the

NN program; and
3. Where NN or other computer labs exist in public housing or MF communities; the extent to which
these centers are improving residents’ digital literacy and access to online resources and training.
This survey is voluntary and is being sent to all PHAs and Multifamily owners.
D. Additional Information:
This assessment will help the Department understand the extent to which HUD-assisted residents
have on-site access to computers and the Internet.
In an effort to minimize the burden on participants and increase response rate, this study is being
conducted in one phase.
This survey was approved by the Office of Management and Budget[OMB Clearance #: and Exp.
Date:].
A

II. Guide to Completing the Survey
A. Guidance for Answering the Survey Questions: The purpose of this survey is to learn about onsite NN computer centers, other on-site computer centers, Internet access and related
training/services available to residents of public and assisted housing as they exist today.
The survey will automatically skip questions that are not relevant to you based on your previous
responses.
In order to respond to the survey, respondents will have to be familiar with their agency or
organization's experience establishing and running NN centers; other computer centers; or other onsite computer services for residents. Respondents who own/manage more than one property or
agency may wish to have the on-site property managers complete the survey. Separate surveys
should be completed for each property/agency.
The questions in this survey relate only to on-site NN centers or other on-site computer
centers/services. Please do not include information about computer/Internet access or related
training that is accessible to residents at an off-site location (e.g. at a local library).
Generally, you should provide information about your agency’s computer centers, training or other
services as they exist today; however, some questions will specifically ask for historical
information. Please answer the questions by providing a response that comes closest to describing
your agency’s NN program/other computer centers or services.
B. Questions About the Survey: If you have questions regarding this survey, please contact:
[email protected] (PH) or [email protected] (MF).

III. How Survey Results Will Be Used
Responses to this survey will be used for research purposes and to inform future policy making.
Responses will NOT be used for compliance monitoring.
Following collection and analysis, HUD will publish the results of the survey for all interested parties
to use. The published data will consist of aggregated results and will NOT contain information that
can be used to identify specific PHAs or MF owners/properties.
The Department is interested in highlighting the success and benefits that agencies have had with
their Neighborhood Networks or other computer centers. At the conclusion of this study, HUD may
contact your agency in an effort to develop a case study documenting your successes.

Thank you for taking this survey.
Respondent Business Contact Information
Please fill in the applicable information and leave all other fields blank.
1. Contact Information for Public Housing Respondent #1
Name
PHA Name and PHA
Code
AMP Number
Address 2
City/Town
State/Province
Email Address
Phone Number

-- select state --

2. Contact Information for Public Housing Respondent #2
Name
PHA Name and PHA
Code
AMP Number
Address 2
City/Town
State/Province

-- select state --

Email Address
Phone Number

3. Contact Information for Multifamily Respondent #1
Name
FHA Number and/or
Contract Number
Address 2
City/Town
State/Province

-- select state --

ZIP/Postal Code
Email Address
Phone Number

4. Contact Information for Multifamily Respondent #2
Name
Company
FHA Number and/or
Contract Number
Address 2
City/Town
State/Province
ZIP/Postal Code
Country
Email Address
Phone Number

-- select state --

Survey Questions

5. Has your PHA or Multifamily property ever had a computer center that was funded or designated as part of
the Neighborhood Networks program?
Yes, our agency received a Public Housing NN grant(s)
Yes, our property/properties had a Multifamily NN designated computer center(s).
No.

6. Does your PHA or MF property currently have a computer center(s)?
Yes.
No.

7. How many computer centers did you open as part of your NN program?
0
1-2
3-4
5 or more
Don't know
If more than five, please tell us how many.

8. How many previously existing computer centers did you upgrade and/or expand as part of Neighborhood
Networks?
0
1-2
3-4
5 or more
Don't know
If more than five, please tell us how many.

9. Are any of your public housing NN-funded or MF-designated centers in operation today?
Yes
No
Some, but not all

10. If you had NN-funded/designated centers that are no longer in operation, please tell us why your center(s)
closed. Check all that apply.
Lack of funding
Lack of resources for staffing centers
Lack of programming
Lack of resident interest
Residents accessing Internet in their units
Other, please specify

11. Does your PHA or MF property currently have a computer center(s)?
Yes.
No.

12. If you do have NN centers that are still in operation, please tell us how many.
1-2
3-4
5 or more
If more than 5, please tell us how many

13. If you did not participate in the Neighborhood Networks program, please tell us why your organization
established computer centers?
Resident demand
As a property amenity
Computer centers assist in the delivery of resident services and training
Other (please specify)

14. When was your computer equipment (hardware) last updated?
Within the last 12 months
2 years ago
3-5 years ago
Don't know

15. Approximately, how many computers do your computer centers have for residents' use (combined total)?
1-10
11-20
21-30
31 or more
If more than 31, please tell us how many.

16. Are your computer centers connected to the Internet?
Yes
Some, not all
No
If no, please tell us why.

17. If yes, which provider do you use? (e.g. Sprint, Verizon, municipal/local provider)

18. Do you have a computer center Coordinator/Monitor at any of your computer centers?
Yes, full-time
Yes, part-time
No
Don't know

19. How are the computer center(s) and center staff funded?
Capital Fund (public housing)
Operating Fund (public housing)
Residual Receipts Account (MF)
Owner’s equity (MF)
Reserve for Replacement (MF - borrowed funds)
Rent increase (MF)
Requesting a special rent adjustment (MF)
Excess Income (MF)
Philanthropy (public housing and MF)
Volunteer/Student staffing (public housing and MF)
Other funds, please specify

20. What is the estimated total annual operating cost to run your computer center(s)?
Less than $10,000
$10,000-$25,000
$25,000-$50,000
$50,000-$75,000
$75,000-$100,000
$100,000-$150,000
$150,000 or more

21. Do you believe your computer center(s) has/have contributed to lowering property operating costs?
Yes
No
Don't know

22. If the computer center(s) has/have reduced property operating costs, please tell us how.

23. Do you believe that your computer center(s) adds to the quality of life at your PHA/MF property?
Yes
No
Don't know

24. If you believe your computer center(s) has/have positively impacted quality of life, please tell us how.

25. Does having an on-site computer center assist your PHA/MF property to create partnerships or obtain
services from other community organizations/partners?
Yes
No
Don't know
If yes, how?

26. Do your center(s) offer any of the following educational programs? Please check all that apply.
Adult Basic education (literacy, numeracy)
After school homework assistance
Access to free online educational programming (i.e. Khan Academy, edX courses, digital badges)
Science, Technology, Engineering, Math (STEM) programs
GED preparation (or other equivalent)
Certificate programs
College preparation/application assistance
English as a Second Language (ESL)
Other (please specify)

27. Does your center(s) offer any of the following employment-related training? Please check all that apply.
Job training
Job search
Job application assistance
Financial literacy
Other (please specify)

28. Does your computer center(s) offer any of the following computer training? Please check all that apply.
Basic computer skills (i.e. beginning keyboarding)
Intermediate computer skills (i.e. Web surfing, setting up an email account)
Advanced computer skills (creating Excel spreadsheets, PowerPoint presentations)
Digital literacy (Digital literacy generally refers to a variety of skills associated with using the Internet and computers to find,
evaluate, create, and communicate information.)
Other (please specify)

29. Does your computer center(s) help residents obtain government benefits and/or information? Please
select all that apply.
Social Security
Medicare/Medicaid
Affordable Care Act coverage
Tax assistance
Veteran's Benefits
Other (please specify)

30. Which of the above services/classes are the most used? If you're unsure, please say "Don't know."

31. Which age groups do your computer centers serve? Please check all that apply:
Children (ages 12 and under)
Youth (13-17)
Adults (18-54)
Seniors (55+)

32. How would you rate demand for your computer center(s)?
Low (center is often empty, some regular users)
Medium (center has regular foot traffic during its open hours)
High (most computer stations generally have someone using it, sometimes there is a wait)
If low center usage, please tell us why (i.e. no Internet connection, no staff, etc.)

33. How important are funding challenges to the continued operation of your computer centers? Please rate
by order of importance 5 = most important 1 = less important.
5. Most important

4.

3 Moderately important

2.

1. Less important

34. How important are staffing challenges to the continued operation of your computer centers? Please rate
by order of importance 5 = most important 1 = less important.
5. Most important

4.

3 Moderately important

2.

1. Less important

35. How important are programming challenges to the continued operation of your computer centers? Please
rate by order of importance 5 = most important 1 = less important.
5. Most important

4.

3 Moderately important

2.

1. Less important

36. How important are challenges in software/hardware upgrades to the continued operation of your
computer centers? Please rate by order of importance 5 = most important 1 = less important.
5. Most important

4.

3 Moderately important

2.

1. Less important

37. How important are challenges in finding partners and/or service providers/trainers to the continued
operation of your computer centers? Please rate by order of importance 5 = most important 1 = less
important.
5. Most important

4.

3 Moderately important

2.

38. If there are other challenges to your center(s)' operation, please tell us about them.

1. Less important

39. How well do you feel your PHA/MF properties are currently equipped to respond to resident requests for
digital literacy training/services?
Well equipped
Adequately equipped
Poorly equipped
If you feel poorly equipped, please tell us why.

40. In buildings where there is no computer center(s), is there a computer available with Internet access for
resident use in a common area or building office?
Yes.
No.
All residents have access to a computer center
Don't know

41. Would your residents be interested in new or expanded computer services on-site?
Yes
No
Don't know

42. Approximately, what percentage of residents in the building(s) subscribe to in-unit Internet service?
Over 80%
60%-80%
40%-60%
20%-40%
Less than 20%
Don't know

43. How much do residents pay for in-unit Internet access per month?
Internet is free, part of building/rent amenity
$25-$50
$50 or more
Depends on the Internet Service Provider they select
Don't know

44. If HUD were able to provide assistance to help your PHA/MF property provide digital access/training,
what type of assistance would you be interested in?
Technical assistance
Information about free digital literacy/training resources
Partnership development
Obtaining 501(c)(3) nonprofit status
Other (please specify)

45. Are there HUD regulations which create barriers to the provision of in-unit broadband? If so, please
describe.

46. Are there HUD regulations which create barriers to the provision of community-based broadband in your
developments (i.e. at a computer center)? If so, please describe.

47. Which HUD policies do you think could be clarified or revised to facilitate broadband deployment and
adoption (i.e. for training programs) in your developments? Please describe.

48. In your opinion, which HUD programs should allow the use of funding for broadband deployment and
adoption that do not currently do so? Please list.

49. In your opinion, which HUD programs could encourage innovation in broadband deployment and
adoption on a large scale? Please list.

Thank you for completing the survey!