According to ‘Our Property’ a Housing Association is a not-for-profit organisation which owns, lets and manages rental housing. Housing associations promote social inclusion, yet digital inclusion and Internet access for social housing has taken it’s time to break through into the housing association market. Housing association Wi-Fi could bring social inclusion, educational benefits, jobs and a new way of managing finances.

Digital inclusion is the new social inclusion

The government says Digital inclusion is about having the access, skills and motivation to confidently go online to access the opportunities of the internet. Housing association Wi-Fi on one level brings social inclusion but it also brings educational inclusion, financial access and many other tools to help people on a low income. Accessibility to online resources is very important for the digitally excluded, and for those with digitally diverse needs. Having Wi-Fi can promote digital inclusion and empowerment within these communities.

Social inclusion

Having access to social media and keeping up to date with the ever changing online landscape is a huge part of internet access for social housing. Sites like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram can help people feel included at times when in reality they are struggling financially or socially. Everyone should have the opportunity to interact with family and friends remotely, as there are factors like time, distance and money that can keep people apart. Wi-Fi closes this gap by introducing instant connection between people through access to social media, video chats, calls and more.

Education and Job Hunting

Using the internet to look for a job reduces unemployment time by 25% according to The Centre for Digital Inclusion. In addition to this basic services and essential goods are accessible through ICT or internet platforms. These services include education, employment, commerce, and social interaction. The potential for these technologies to aid in positive social impact is high. However, the reality is that many individuals, and even whole communities, are overlooked, forgotten, or excluded. This further proves why housing association Wi-Fi is a necessity for social inclusion. Furthermore, these days, a lot of jobs are moving online. Without Wi-Fi, tenants are missing out on remote opportunities and may be unable to even apply for jobs or be notified of opportunities, further isolating communities.

Finances

Lastly financial reasons are a large part of why people find themselves in social housing. Internet access for social housing gives way to Online banking, and  budgeting apps such as Wally. This can help them to manage their money and find their way out of social housing. Furthermore, there are plenty of online resources that provide information and education on all things finance that they will then have access to. Worried about the extra cost? Read our article here to find out why Wi-Fi in social housing might not be as expensive as you think.

Landlord Broadband

Landlord Broaband can help to promote social and digital inclusion by creating a digitally empowered environment. We can do this with our fully managed internet service. We can answer any questions you may have with our 24/7/365 support helpdesk. Furthermore, our reliable connectivity boasts a no dead zone guarantee and protection against tenant misuse. Find out more about our Wi-Fi for Social Housing here.