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SENIORS, COMMUNITY PARTNERS, AND HUD
CELEBRATE IN THE DEDICATION OF A
NEIGHBORHOOD NETWORKS COMPUTER CENTER

Spokane, WA  - Today, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Fahy West Apartments, Fahy Gardens, Fahy West, Inc., G&B Real Estate Services, community residents, and supporting community groups celebrate the dedication of the Fahy West Neighborhood Networks Centers located at C.O.P.S. West.

Located in Spokane, Washington, this Neighborhood Network Center is the 41st center in a Washington State HUD insured and assisted facility. The Fahy West Neighborhood Networks Center is part of the Neighborhood Networks Initiative sponsored by HUD to provide new economic and community- based opportunities. The initiative encourages owners and managers of HUD assisted housing to create computer learning centers on-site for the residents and community, with the help of other community partners and resources, both public and private.

Of particular significance is the fact that Fahy West Neighborhood Networks Center located at C.O.P.S. West was funded under the New Approach Anti-Drug Elimination Grant Program of HUD. The purpose of this grant program is to provide funding to owners of certain housing developments to:

• Augment security;
• Assist in the investigation and prosecution of drug-related criminal activity in and around the housing developments; and
• Provide for the development of capital improvements directly relating to enhancing the security of the developments and community. An eligible activity under this grant program was to develop a Neighborhood Networks Computer Learning Center.

Neighborhood Networks is a comprehensive, community-based program to provide educational opportunities for residents at Fahy West, Fahy Gardens, and residents in the community to learn and connect. Fahy West Neighborhood Networks Center works in partnership with C.O.P.S. West to provide access to technology Fahy West, Fahy Gardens, and residents of the community. Fahy West Apartments and Fahy Gardens provides safe, affordable housing and supportive services, thereby, allowing seniors to remain at home as long as possible. Fahy West Neighborhood Networks Center located at C.O.P.S. West brings the services and connections right to the resident's community.

Fahy West Neighborhood Networks Center's objectives and focus include:

• Provide residents and the neighborhood with access to technology and the Internet.
• Provide an opportunity for residents to be involved in the planning, implementation, and daily maintenance of the center.
• Reduce welfare dependency by enabling adult residents on welfare to participate in the program to get a decent paying job.
• Encourage small business ventures using the computer learning center for new and establishing small businesses.
• Improve health care accessibility and partnerships by creating useful ongoing linkages with other health care providers by making the programs of local healthcare providers available to residents who participate in the program.
• Improve social service accessibility and partnerships by creating useful ongoing linkages with other social service providers available to residents who participate in the center each year.

Computer literacy is quickly becoming an important requirement of daily living in today's society. It is critical that adults, seniors, and children have a thorough understanding of computers and software in order to communicate with needed services, organizations, doctors, and family members. Personal computers and computer literacy greatly enhance and facilitate the individual residents' pursuit of economic independence and also provides opportunities for education, socialization, and community information.

Fahy West Neighborhood Networks Center is one of over 1000 centers that have opened up nationwide. There are 700 more in the planning stages.

For more information about the dedication or Fahy West and Fahy Gardens, please call Cicely Bradley, G&B Real Estate Services, at (509) 459-6016, or by email.

Visit Neighborhood Networks to learn more.

More information about HUD and its programs is available on the Internet at www.hud.gov.