by Aba Amihyia
What is Digital Poverty?
In an increasingly connected world, access to the internet is more than a luxury; it's a vital part of living in the 21st century. Digital poverty - the lack of access to digital services due to financial, educational, or infrastructural barriers is a growing concern, especially for those in social housing.
The Good Things Foundation’s ‘Digital Nation 2023’ report states that 2.5m U.K households struggle to afford fixed broadband with 1m of those people losing access to the internet due to the cost of living crisis. By 2032, if no action is taken, 5.8m people will be digitally excluded. Furthermore, non-users of the internet (compared to extensive users) are 2x more likely to have a disability or health condition, limited users (compared to extensive users) are 5x more likely to come from low-income households and 6x more likely to be over-65.
What can be done? By not addressing digital exclusion, social landlords may eventually face another inequality which would need to form part of their EDI Strategies. Social landlords, including housing associations, councils, housing trusts, and housing developers, are in a unique position to make a significant impact in bridging the digital divide. Housing Association Transformation programs also risk increasing resident inequalities if the program can’t reach and inform the digitally excluded. Here's 8 ways on how they can help:
1. Recognise the need to integrate digital inclusion activities into strategic business transformation programmes.
Social landlords must recognise that the value and benefit of online involvement needs to be communicated more effectively to tenants. One of the biggest barriers to their own online involvement is not being clear on what online involvement entails and the advantages it brings. Appealing to tenants' hearts and minds is therefore crucial. Tenants should feel motivated to go online out of their own desire, rather than feeling obligated to do so for their housing association or council’s benefit.
2. Invest in having quality data about your residents – including data on digital poverty.
In order for social landlords to understand the extent and nature of digital poverty within their communities, they must have reliable data on all residents, particularly those who are less heard. Investing in an organisation such as Neighbourly Lab to collect and analyse data can help landlords identify who faces specific barriers to digital inclusion, and who is most at risk. This data is essential for addressing digital poverty. For example, they might need to provide more devices or enhance internet literacy in certain neighbourhoods. Social landlords can then use this information to make informed decisions and allocate resources to ensure that all residents have access to digital devices.
3. Invest in Digital Infrastructure
Investing in digital infrastructure is crucial for the modern age. This means investing in reliable Wi-Fi in communal areas, ensuring homes are cabled to support high-speed broadband connections. By improving internet services in homes, the digital divide in education ( the gap that exists between students who have access to digital technologies, such as computers and the internet and those who don't) may be decreased, increasing educational equity.
4. Digital Skills Training
Access alone is just the first step towards digital inclusivity, without the necessary skills and knowledge, residents may struggle to fully benefit from online services. By offering training sessions, tenants can gain the confidence and expertise needed to navigate the digital world for job searching, accessing government assistance, or maintaining connections with friends and family.
5. Partner with Local Organisations
Residents can benefit greatly from forming partnerships with nearby educational institutions, libraries, and community centres, as they can provide valuable resources and support to help improve digital literacy or access essential services.
6. Support with Devices As touched upon in point 2, providing or subsidising the cost of devices like computers or tablets can go a long way in bridging the digital divide and ensuring equitable access to online services for all members of the community.
7. Tailored Support for Lesser Heard & Vulnerable Groups
As touched upon in point 2, providing or subsidising the cost of devices like computers or tablets can go a long way in bridging the digital divide and ensuring equitable access to online services for all members of the community.
8. Feedback and Continuous Improvement
Social landlords can benefit from engaging with residents through an organisation such as Neighbourly Lab to collect feedback on their digital requirements and experiences, enabling them to improve their support services.
By addressing digital poverty, social landlords can not only enhance the quality of life for their tenants but also contribute to the broader societal goal of digital inclusion for all. An informed, connected community is a stronger community, and social landlords have a pivotal role to play in fostering this environment.