P lanting the 

 Seeds of Success

About Neighborhood Networks

There are approximately 1,500 Neighborhood Networks centers located 

on multifamily housing properties throughout the United States, 

Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The mission of Neighborhood 

Networks is simple: Deliver greater technology access to increase 

self-sufficiency among residents of Federal Housing Administration 

(FHA)-insured and -assisted properties. To fulfill this 

mission, HUD encourages owners and managers 

of FHA-insured and -assisted properties to 

establish onsite, multiservice centers that 

provide access to computers and offer 

a variety of workforce development, 

academic-enrichment, lifelong 

learning, and community-building 

programs. Through Neighborhood 

Networks, HUD offers residents 

the opportunity to acquire or 

improve the skills they need to 

compete, succeed, and thrive 

in today’s technology-driven 

world. 

Cultivating Success Since 1995

The year was 1995. Microsoft released Windows 95, selling more than 

half a million copies in the first four days it was on the market. Amazon.

com, eBay, and Hotmail made their debut on the Web, ushering in a 

whole new way of doing business and communicating. And, more than 

20 million* U.S. households had a personal computer, providing a glimpse 

of the vital role technology would play in American society. 

Even though technology was changing the way people worked, 

learned, and lived, there were still millions of Americans who lacked 

access to it or the necessary skills to use it. In September 1995, the 

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD’s) Office 

of Multifamily Housing Programs took action to change this for HUD 

multifamily residents with the introduction of the Neighborhood 

Networks Initiative. This Initiative has been cultivating success in 

communities ever since.

A Snapshot of Success**

As of September 2009:

• More than 1.1 million residents had used Neighborhood Networks 

centers since the Initiative was launched in 1995.

• More than 7,000 computers located in Neighborhood Networks 

centers were delivering technology access to America’s communities.

• Nearly 70,000 residents had been placed in jobs through 

programs offered at their local Neighborhood Networks centers.

And, in 2009, more than 160,000 adults and seniors and more than 

100,000 youth had access to customized programs and services 

offered at their local Neighborhood Networks center.

** Based on 2009 data obtained from the Neighborhood Networks Strategic Tracking 

and Reporting Tool.

Operation P.E.A.C.E. Community Arts and 

Technology Center

Boston, Massachusetts

Lavergne Court Learning Center/Mercy 

Housing Lakefront Resident Lab 

Technology Center

Chicago, Illinois

Community Network Learning Center

Huntsville, Alabama
W hile no two Neighborhood Networks centers are alike, they 

all use technology to increase self-sufficiency, enhance 

academic achievement, and offer lifelong learning opportunities. Some 

of the most common programs and services offered at Neighborhood 

Networks centers include:

• Workforce development programs that help adult residents obtain 

a job or advance in their current position. Workforce development 

programs include computer classes, resume writing and interviewing 

techniques workshops, job training and placement services, adult 

literacy, General Educational Development (GED) exam preparation 

courses, and English as a Second Language (ESL) classes.

• Academic enrichment and 

leadership programs that help 

youth achieve greater success in the 

classroom and in life. Youth programs 

include afterschool activities, as well 

as mentoring and leadership programs.

• Lifelong learning and personal 

enrichment programs that teach 

seniors how to use computers to 

gain information on jobs, volunteer 

opportunities, and health care. Also, 

seniors’ use of computers enables 

them to stay informed and connected 

to family and friends.

E ach day, Neighborhood Networks centers deliver the resources 

and programs residents need to achieve greater self-sufficiency, 

academic success, and confidence. However, providing these resources 

and programs would not be possible without the generous support of 

property owners/managers, partners, and volunteers. And, while these 

Neighborhood Networks supporters provide much needed resources, 

time, and funding, they also reap the rewards that go with contributing 

to the success of Neighborhood Networks centers. 

A Sound Business Decision for Property Owners 

and Managers

Owning and managing a property is a business, and all decisions 

regarding that property must be evaluated based on the return 

on investment. Opening a Neighborhood Networks center 

offers a tangible return on investment by: 

• Increasing the self-sufficiency and financial stability of 

residents.

• Making properties more attractive to potential residents, 

thereby lowering vacancy rates and tenant turnover.

• Decreasing security and upkeep costs by giving residents a 

greater sense of pride and a greater stake in the overall well 

being of the community.

• Establishing mutually beneficial relationships with residents and 

the local partners that work with the center.

E ach year, Americans volunteer their time and talent to various 

organizations and causes. Some volunteer for the personal 

satisfaction that comes with giving back to their community. Others, 

such as high school and college students, volunteer as part of a 

service-learning project that provides an extra dimension to their 

education by enabling them to apply the lessons they have learned 

in the classroom, while strengthening the community. No matter the 

reason, the local Neighborhood Networks center provides an ideal 

volunteer opportunity. 

If you or your organization is interested in opening or 

supporting a Neighborhood Networks center, please visit 

www.NeighborhoodNetworks.org to learn more about the 

Initiative and to view a list of 

centers in your area. You may 

also call the Neighborhood Networks 

Information Center toll-free at (888) 

312-2743 or contact your local HUD 

office. The hearing impaired may 

access this number via TTY by first 

calling the Federal Information Relay 

Service at (800) 877-8339. 

* U.S. Census Bureau (1999). Computer 

and Internet Use in the United States. 

Retrieved at http://www.census.gov/

prod/99pubs/p20-522.pdf.

Pinewood Park Learning Center

Lufkin, Texas

When Travis was eight years old, he and his four siblings were 

removed from their parents’ custody, and adopted by another 

family. Growing up in his new adopted home, Travis excelled at 

sports and academics. At 16, he was a sponsored basketball player. 

At 17, he was offered football scholarships to several universities. 

Despite his achievements, Travis’ childhood problems took an 

emotional toll, prompting him to quit the football team, stop 

playing basketball, and drop out of school. For 12 years, Travis 

worked a series of unfulfilling jobs until he realized the solution 

to his situation was back in the classroom. Travis turned to his 

property’s onsite Neighborhood Networks center, the Pinewood 

Park Learning Center, for the resources, guidance, and support 

he needed to start living up to his potential. At the Pinewood 

Park Learning Center, Travis enrolled in the General Educational 

Development (GED) exam preparation class. After six months of 

studying and preparing for the GED exam, Travis received high 

scores on the test and earned his GED. With his spark of 

determination reignited, Travis went on to enroll at a local 

community college to pursue a career in physical fitness and 

health sciences.

Bryant Manor Computer Learning Center

Seattle, Washington

To help students achieve their full academic potential, staff at 

the Bryant Manor Computer Learning Center launched the Above 

and Beyond program. Approximately 60 elementary, middle, and 

high school students participate in the afterschool program that 

meets Mondays through Thursdays from 3:15 p.m. to 8 p.m. To 

encourage students to become active participants in Above and 

Beyond, center staff established a peer educators component for 

the program. Students who have earned a 4.0 in a subject area are 

eligible to tutor the younger students. However, before a student 

becomes a peer educator, he or she must complete an orientation 

that teaches them communication skills, how to assess a student’s 

need and progress, the difference between teaching and doing the 

work for the student, how to give praise, and how to empower a 

student. Peer educators must maintain a 3.0 grade point average 

to continue being a tutor. The program’s academically enriching 

curriculum has resulted in 48 percent of the center’s afterschool 

program participants earning a 4.0 grade point average and a 

significant number of the high school seniors going to college.

Orford Village Commons Computer Center

Manchester, Connecticut

To help senior residents overcome their fear of and reluctance 

to using computer technology, the Orford Village Commons 

Computer Center launched an eight-week computer literacy 

course that taught basic computer terminology and skills. The 

class also offered instruction on using the Internet to search for 

information, explore the world, and use e-mail to connect and 

communicate with family and friends. To create a hands-on 

curriculum that would be compatible with the seniors’ learning 

styles, center staff created PowerPoint presentations, researched 

textbooks, and installed senior-friendly equipment and options, 

such as large print key boards and easily visible desktop icons. 

Center staff also limited class size to two seniors per session. 

Twelve senior residents, who ranged in age from 75 to 90, 

successfully completed the first eight-week session. To celebrate 

the seniors’ achievement and encourage them to continue learning 

new skills, center staff hosted a special graduation ceremony.

An Opportunity for Partners to Connect with the 

Community 

Local businesses, corporations, and organizations are often looking for 

ways to give back to the community whose support is critical to their 

success. As a Neighborhood Networks center partner, local businesses 

and organizations have the opportunity to empower residents and 

create a talented workforce that meets their employment needs, while 

at the same time demonstrating their commitment to the community 

by providing financial, in-kind, and volunteer support. 

A Chance to Reap What You Sow A P lace for Personal 

Growth

At Centers Across 

the Nation

Village at Lakeview Neighborhood 

Networks Center

Edgewood, Maryland

The Montgomery Townhouses Neighborhood Networks Center and the Philadelphia Neighborhood 

Networks Consortium (PNNC) partner with CVS Caremark to host a career fair in Philadelphia, 

Pennsylvania.

Scientists and staff members from NASA, 

a long-time Neighborhood Networks 

partner, work with youth from the 

Northpointe Resource Center in Long 

Beach, California.

A Partnership for Employment

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

The Philadelphia Neighborhood Networks Consortium (PNNC) 

and CVS Caremark formed a workforce development partnership 

to deliver greater employment opportunities to residents. For 

the partnership, the PNNC offers life- and job-skills training 

that prepares residents for careers at CVS pharmacy stores, 

while CVS provides residents with employment and career 

advancement opportunities. To launch and promote the 

partnership, Montgomery Townhouses Neighborhood Networks 

Center in Philadelphia hosted a career fair. The fair featured the 

managers of 41 CVS pharmacy stores to discuss employment 

opportunities with residents. During the career fair, residents 

applied for positions and were interviewed by CVS store 

managers. CVS Caremark intends to broaden the partnership 

with the PNNC by launching a job shadowing program. Through 

the program, youth will have the opportunity to shadow CVS 

associates, managers, and pharmacists to learn about the skills and 

qualifications necessary for each position. The program will also 

provide youth with on-the-job experience at select CVS stores.