Greenburgh Housing Authority Wants Residents To Have Broadband

GREENBURGH, NY — The Greenburgh Housing Authority wants to bring broadband internet access to its tenants.

In an email from town Supervisor Paul Feiner, the housing authority is seeking residents who have experience in broadband and can help determine the cost of providing it.

Feiner said that broadband internet access is important for education, employment, health and connections. He said it has allowed people to continue working and students to continue learning in their homes.

"Sadly, many low-income residents, especially those who live in public housing around the nation, do not have the same high-speed internet access that wealthier students have," he said.

According to the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, only 56 percent of adults earning less than $30,000 per year have broadband at home versus 94 percent for upper-income families, Feiner said.

He said Bishop Wilbert Preston of the housing authority and town officials are committed to providing the few hundred housing authority tenants with high-speed internet access.

The town will be applying for Community Development Block Grants to bring broadband to each of the complexes and will be reaching out for other grants and programs.

Feiner said the first step will be getting cost estimates to each of the housing authority sites.

Anyone who has experience in broadband technology and wants to assist in coming up with a plan/budget should email Preston and copy Feiner.

Here are the housing sites and number of units:

• Maple Ave., Oak Street, Beach Street: 131 apartments
• Manhattan Ave. — senior housing: 30 apartments being demolished; 70 apartments to be built
• Greenville Circle: 15 apartments
• North Washington Ave.: 15 apartments
• Old White Plains Road, Tarrytown: 15 apartments
• Saw Mill River Road, Elmsford: 25 apartment
• Secor Road: 15 apartments

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