Briefs for Wednesday

The Washington State Department of Commerce was awarded a $6 million grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to create rental properties for low-income people with disabilities.

The grant will support 260 new rental units in the state for residents in need, according to the department.

“We have worked to tie together the state Housing Trust Fund, our partners at the Department of Social and Health Services, Health Care Authority and rental assistance in a meaningful, systemic way that should be a model for all of our efforts to serve people with disabling conditions,” Diane Klontz, commerce assistant director for community services and housing, said in a statement.

The department was one of seven recipients of HUD’s Project Rental Assistance awards, according to a news release.

Comcast extends free service

Comcast is extending its commitment to expand internet access during the coronavirus pandemic through June.

Comcast will continue providing free internet service for the first 60 days for new Internet Essentials customers, the company announced Monday.

Internet Essentials is Comcast’s $9.95 per month high-speed internet program for low-income residents.

Comcast will also continue to waive a requirement that customers must not have back debt with the company in order to apply for services in an effort to ensure residents remain connected during the pandemic, according to a company release.

In addition, Comcast will continue providing free access to more than 1.5 million public Xfinity Wi-Fi hotspots nationwide, according to the release.

From staff reports