• Michigan Coalitions

  Does digital equity make housing more affordable?

  Posted by DrRon Suarez on October 6, 2024 at 9:12 am

  AI: Digital equity can indeed make housing more affordable by reducing the overall cost of living and improving access to essential services like education, healthcare, and employment opportunities. Here’s how:

  1. **Reducing Monthly Costs**: Providing free or affordable high-speed internet in housing, especially low-income housing, significantly cuts household expenses. For example, a program in Ann Arbor suggests that free apartment Wi-Fi could save households approximately $100 per month, making housing effectively more affordable【15†source】【16†source】.

  2. **Access to Essential Services**: The internet is crucial for modern-day essentials such as remote work, online education, healthcare services, and applying for jobs. Lower-income households, which often lack affordable internet, are disproportionately affected by this digital divide. By closing the gap, digital equity ensures these households can better access these services, leading to potential cost savings on transportation and time【15†source】【17†source】.

  3. **Supporting Job Accessibility**: People who work but cannot afford to live near their jobs (often in urban centers like Ann Arbor) may benefit from better internet access to explore remote work options. This reduces commuting costs, which are typically the second-largest household expense after housing【16†source】【17†source】.

  4. **Community-Owned Internet Networks**: Establishing community-owned internet networks reduces reliance on monopolistic internet service providers. These networks can offer more affordable services and keep money circulating within the community, benefiting both the local economy and residents【15†source】.

  Thus, digital equity initiatives such as free Wi-Fi in apartments and community-owned broadband can directly and indirectly make housing more affordable by lowering utility costs and increasing access to economic opportunities.

  DrRon Suarez replied 1 week, 4 days ago 1 Member · 0 Replies
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