What Is Neighborhood Networks?

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Launched in 1995 by HUD's Office of Multifamily Housing Programs, Neighborhood Networks was one of the first federal initiatives to promote self-sufficiency and help provide computer access to HUD FHA-insured and -assisted housing communities. To accomplish these goals, the community-based Initiative encourages property owners and managers to establish multiservice community learning centers that bring digital opportunity and lifelong learning to residents living in multifamily-insured and/or -assisted housing.

Neighborhood Networks centers contribute to the lowering of crime, vandalism, and vacancy rates, which result in lower project operating expenses and increase the value of properties insured by the FHA. The enhancement of the general quality of life, increased property value, and overall property improvement make the FHA-insured and -assisted properties more financially stable and marketable, which decreases risk to the FHA Insurance Fund.

Today, there are approximately 1,500 Neighborhood Networks centers operating in HUD multifamily-insured and -assisted housing communities located in all 50 of the United States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Approximately 60 HUD Neighborhood Networks Coordinators help implement the Initiative. Coordinators are located in each HUD Field Office and are usually Housing Project Managers who volunteer to take on Neighborhood Networks responsibilities in addition to their assigned duties and responsibilities. Coordinators conduct outreach to property owners and managers to encourage the establishment and maintenance of Neighborhood Networks centers and provide one-on-one technical assistance to centers in their jurisdiction.