CLPHA Press Room

From the City of New York's press release:

New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) Acting Commissioner Ahmed Tigani today announced “Liberty Link,” a groundbreaking program that will deliver high-quality internet to thousands of low-income New Yorkers in 100-percent affordable housing buildings at little to no cost to tenants. Through the pilot program — which is being led by HPD and the New York Public Library (NYPL) system — NYPL will connect the buildings to fiber internet and deploy building-wide Wi-Fi infrastructure. With $3.25 million in funding from HPD, the pilot internet network will serve nearly 2,200 households across 35 affordable housing buildings in the Bronx and Upper Manhattan. Additionally, as part of Liberty Link, tenants will have access to HPD’s “Neighborhood Tech Help” program, a one-on-one digital literacy program launched earlier this year to help New Yorkers connect to the internet, use technology, and navigate online resources. Today’s announcement reaffirms Mayor Adams’ commitment to closing the digital divide in New York City and making sure that every New Yorker has affordable access to the internet. In 2022, the Adams administration launched “Big Apple Connect” to bring access to free internet and cable to 330,000 New Yorkers across 220 NYCHA facilities and save working-class families an average of roughly $1,700 per year. With Liberty Link — which was first previewed in Mayor Adams’ State of the City address earlier this year — the Adams administration will double down on those efforts and deliver an essential, free service to even more New Yorkers.

“Whether it’s finding a job, filling a prescription, or applying for child care, the internet is no longer a luxury; it’s an essential service. But when we came into office, too many New Yorkers were disconnected from the internet, which is why we launched our ‘Big Apple Connect’ program to bring free broadband to hundreds of thousands of NYCHA residents. Today, we are doubling down on those efforts and expanding our free Wi-Fi services to thousands of new Section 8 and affordable housing tenants with ‘Liberty Link,’” said Mayor Adams. “‘Liberty Link’ will build on the success of ‘Big Apple Connect’ and give over 2,000 more households the free internet they need. We will help more working-class New Yorkers save on the cost of this vital service, put money back into their pockets, and deliver, once again, on our commitment to create a more affordable city for working-class families.”

“Access to reliable, high-speed internet is a fundamental necessity in today’s world. With ‘Liberty Link,’ we are extending the reach of our digital equity work to ensure that more New Yorkers, regardless of income or zip code, can fully participate in our economy and society,” said Deputy Mayor for Housing, Economic Development, and Workforce Adolfo Carrión, Jr. “This program is about ensuring equal opportunity and creating a more connected and inclusive city.”

“At HPD, we talk a lot about housing as a foundation. But today is about what we build on top of that foundation: access to jobs, education, health care — all of which increasingly depend on access to the internet,” said HPD Acting Commissioner Tigani. “For the families we serve, the internet isn’t a luxury — it’s how you find a job, get your kids through school, stay connected to health care and community. With ‘Liberty Link,’ we’re meeting people where they are and removing a barrier that’s held too many New Yorkers back for far too long.”

“Part of the Library’s mission is to promote free access to information, and in today’s digital world that means internet access,” said Anthony W. Marx, president, The New York Public Library. “From applying to jobs to staying informed, the internet is increasingly necessary to fully participate in society. This is why we are so committed to closing the digital divide and proud to help spearhead this innovative program designed to deliver free at-home Wi-Fi to lower-income New Yorkers.”

The Liberty Link pilot program will run for three years and test a range of models and technologies to identify the most effective and scalable approaches for a citywide expansion. As part of the Adams administration’s efforts to increase investments in minority- and women-owned business enterprises (M/WBEs), approximately half of the pilot’s funding will be awarded to M/WBEs to install, maintain, and operate the network infrastructure. Network design and procurement will begin this summer, with service rollout expected to begin by the end of 2025.

Liberty Link will operate in 35 buildings with 100-percent affordable housing across the Bronx and Upper Manhattan. These buildings include properties owned by non-profit housing providers such as Comunilife, JASA, Lantern Community Services, Lutheran Social Services, PIBLY Residential Programs, Services for the Underserved, and Urban Pathways. Many residents of these buildings participate in the Section 8 rental assistance program and currently face barriers to internet access.

Liberty Link builds on the Adams administration’s continued investment in closing the city’s digital divide and delivering public services that meet the needs of New Yorkers where they live. Mayor Adams originally launched Big Apple Connect in September 2022 to provide residents of New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) developments with a free bundle that consists of in-home, high-speed internet connection, basic cable TV service, and access to common area Wi-Fi hotspots, selected in consultation with NYCHA. After a first phase that reached more than 90,000 households across 135 NYCHA developments, the Adams administration has steadily expanded Big Apple Connect to reach 150,000 households, and 330,000 total New Yorkers, citywide across 220 NYCHA facilities.

From the Housing Authority of New Orleans' press release:

July 18, 2025 —The Housing Authority of New Orleans (HANO), through its Resident Opportunities and Self-Sufficiency (ROSS) Program, is partnering with Cox Communications and a coalition of organizations to host a series of Back-to-School giveaway events to support families living in HANO communities with supplies, services, and celebration ahead of the new school year.

The ROSS Program, a HUD-funded initiative, connects public housing residents—including elderly and disabled individuals—with education, employment, health, financial literacy, and social services that support long-term stability and self-sufficiency. These back-to-school events reflect that mission by removing barriers to access and ensuring families are set up for success.

The series will kick off Saturday, July 26, 2025, from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. at 3450 Desire Parkway to support residents of The Estates. This launch event is made possible through the generous support of Cox Communications.

Participating partners include: 1 Life 1 Future, Aetna, AT&T, Baker Maid, Bonfolk Giving Good, Chase Bank, Cricket Wireless, The Elzey Foundation, Thrive 9th Ward, DePaul Community Health Centers, Healthy Blue, Humana, Just Life Insurance Partners, UnitedHealthcare and more.

“We are proud to work alongside Cox Communications and our amazing community partners to ensure HANO families are equipped, supported, and celebrated as the school year approaches,” said Marjorianna Willman, HANO Executive Director. “These events demonstrate the power of partnership and our shared commitment to uplifting New Orleans families.”

“We are grateful for the chance to give back to our neighbors in meaningful ways," said Sunni LeBeouf, Greater New Orleans Market Vice President at Cox. "Cox Communications is all about connecting communities. Through fellow changemakers like HANO, we're using our technology and resources to help support families with tools and school supplies for a confident start to the school year —and that's what true community connection looks like."

Families will enjoy free backpacks and school supplies, food, health resources, music, games, and giveaways as HANO and its partners work to eliminate gaps in access for residents.

From CVS Health's press release:

CVS Health® announced today the opening of its new Workforce Innovation and Talent Center (WITC) in Columbus, located at the Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority's Rosewind Community Center. The WITC will provide the community access to free workforce training and health services in collaboration with various local workforce organizations, such as Eckerd Connects, Columbus Jewish and Family Services, Columbus State Community College, YouthBuild and more.

The WITC will transform lives in the Columbus community, like that of Triunity Darden. Her journey began while trying to navigate herself on a better path into adulthood. Now, as a pharmacy technician at CVS Health, Triunity is not only making progress on her own journey, but her sister is also following in her footsteps toward pursuing the same career.

"Finding a job I enjoy was challenging, and then after losing my previous job, I knew Eckerd was my first step toward change. The program supports you in going back to school, finding a job or building a career path," Darden said. "Through their support and guidance, I realized that it was okay to rebuild and not have everything figured out. Now that I'm a certified pharmacy technician, I feel accomplished and motivated to advance in my career. Knowing I'm making a difference in people's lives at CVS Pharmacy, often in unseen ways, keeps me going."

The new WITC will provide free training for individuals seeking employment as pharmacy technicians, customer service associates, call center associates and retail associates. A simulated retail store location will offer hands-on job training to create experiences resembling real-world scenarios.

Every participant who completes the WITC program has an opportunity to apply for a position at CVS Health and will also have access to Aetna's new Community Resource Center. This center is available to the public, and its services include health needs assessments and education, assistance navigating health benefits, access to computers and state-of-the-art teleconferencing, and connections to a network of local health care providers.

"At our new WITC, we're dedicated to helping individuals build skills for in-demand jobs, like Pharmacy Technicians," said Sheryl Burke, SVP of Corporate Social Responsibility and Chief Sustainability Officer at CVS Health. "Working alongside the Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority and various local workforce organizations, we aim to make it easier for community members to access and find meaningful employment."

"CMHA is committed to improving the quality of life for Franklin County residents, and all of our community, and we're honored to support the grand opening of the Columbus WITC as part of that mission," said CMHA Board Chair James L. Ervin, Jr. "In today's rapidly evolving economy, the strength of local communities depends on a skilled, agile, and adaptive workforce," Ervin added. "The new Columbus WITC will be a tremendous resource for individuals and employers across central Ohio, creating opportunities for skill development, career advancement, and long-term economic growth."

Working with the Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority builds on CVS Health and Aetna's long history of community support in Ohio. To date, CVS Health has invested more than $79 million in affordable housing across Ohio, helping to create, preserve and renovate nearly 1,900 housing units. The company also offers free health screenings to individuals nationwide through its Project Health initiative. Last year, CVS Health hosted 54 Project Health events, which saw over 1,400 participants and provided 5,000 screenings in Ohio.