Virginia Viles

Name: Virginia Viles

E-mail: hcrd@ix.netcom.com

Organization: Housing and Computer Resources and Development, Inc.

City and State: Arlington, Tx

Area of Employment: government

How I heard about Network Democracy:

Through the Neighborhood Networks Home Page under What's New.

My experience in this area:

I am the Executive Director of a small Non Profit organization that provides techanical assistance and Internet Access training to PHA's and other housing related non profits nationwide. We have been assisting PHA's within the State of Texas throughout the past year. In the past year we have participated at four (4) major Housing Conferences with Housing Officials across the state. We have spoken with almost all of the Directors and Executive Staff of almost all 440 PHAs within the State of Texas. Many of them desire the ability to access information electronically but are stimied by the costs of obtaining the computer equipment, software, training and monthly access. In many rural areas of Texas access is non existant leaving the PHA with either no access or excessive charges for 1/800 access. Approximately 1/3 of the PHAs cannot afford the computer equipment, much less anything else. When you get to the other non PHA housing organizations, the picture is even worse. They simply do not have the funding. Given the above I feel as if I am qualified to address some of the issues relating to the grants for Non Profit entities for equipment, software and training. Once the parent organizations have been trained, grants need to be made available to the Residents/Homeowners to acquire the same services.

What I hope to learn:

Information and contacts on how to assist the PHAs and housing organizations on becoming part of the "Information Superhighway."

Additional comments:

[No information provided.]