Program Links Apartment Residents To Computers

Low-income apartment residents on the South Side are getting hooked to computers through new neighborhood learning centers.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development is cooperating with managers of the apartments to open centers equipped with computers, Internet access and tutorial programs.

The projects on the South Side get financial assistance from HUD and are managed by Kiemle & Hagood Co. for non-profit boards. The boards are established through churches or charities that sponsor the housing projects.

The complexes include Manito Gardens, 500 E. 29th; Coventry Court, 1600 W. Pacific; and Canterbury Court, near Sacred Heart Medical Center. Together, they house nearly 300 senior citizens.

Also, computers are being installed at the Liberty Park and Richard Allen complexes for low-income families in the Grant Park neighborhood. They have about 300 residents.

Another computer center is opening at Applewood apartments for the mentally handicapped at 4404 E. Eighth, with about two dozen residents.

As many as six computers are being installed at each complex, and residents will be able to use them to send electronic mail, keep in touch with their physicians by e-mail, and learn job skills.

Adults in their working years can prepare resumes for job searches or learn to type. Computer training is planned.

Senior residents can use the computers to prepare paperwork for medical needs or use the Internet to learn about community resources that might help them.

“It’s an exciting concept,” said Kay Reilly, senior property manager and HUD coordinator for Kiemle & Hagood.

There are nine computer centers citywide in housing complexes operated by Kiemle & Hagood.

According to officials at HUD, about 140 centers have opened nationwide so far under a program initiated last year by Vice President Al Gore. Another 770 are in the planning stages.

That makes Kiemle & Hagood one of the leaders nationwide in developing the learning centers.

HUD is encouraging low-income complexes to bring more community resources to their properties to help residents with job training, education, self-employment or wellness concerns.

The centers should provide greater interaction among residents of the complexes and promote a sense of community, according to a press release from HUD.

The idea is to help low-income people become more self-sufficient.

At Manito Gardens, manager Kathy Gilstrap said her senior residents were initially skeptical about the idea, but now she has several taking advantage of the computer center there.

One resident uses computer games for entertainment. Another resident at Manito Gardens is learning how to type, Gilstrap said. Other residents in the senior citizen complexes are Russian immigrants and are still working to overcome language barriers, Gilstrap said.

The program is also getting support from Oral B, the company that makes toothcare products. Oral B donated nine computers, monitors and printers to the program, Reilly said.

, DataTimes