“I want a stable home for my kids.”

Providing computers to families in St. Mary Development’s lease-to-purchase program helps them become self-sufficient, and helps their kids succeed, too.

Donetta Bennett is a single parent with two children. Her dream is to provide a stable home for her kids — a dream that she’s accomplishing step by step.

Donetta moved into her new home in Washington Square almost a year and a half ago. The home was made possible as part of St. Mary Development Corporation’s single-family-home lease-to-purchase program for low-income families.

Now thanks to the AT&T AccessAll project and the HomeOwnership Center of Greater Dayton, a division of St. Mary Development Corporation, Donetta’s family has a new computer and high-speed Internet access. These will connect the family to information and instruction about money management, health and fitness, school, jobs, homeownership, emergencies and insurance, among other topics. The Bennetts are one of 33 families in the neighborhood who will receive computers. More than 250 computers will be distributed throughout the Dayton area.

Cheryle Atwood, the Service Coordinator at the HomeOwnership Center who works with participating families is excited about the program. “The AccessAll program is a valuable tool providing technology and information to our residents, helping them build better lives,” says Cheryle. “Without this program many of our families would not be able to afford a computer or access to the internet.”

AccessAll is a partnership between One Economy, Congressman Michael Turner and many community partners including St. Mary Development Corporation, Living Cities Inc., The Dayton Urban League, East End Community Services Corporation, and Improved Solutions for Urban Systems.  The program is also supported with a grant from the Ohio Capital Resident Fund.

One Economy is a multi-national non-profit organization committed to bringing broadband to the homes of low-income families through the AccessAll program. Their mission is to improve the lives of low-income people and help them enter the economic mainstream. One Economy created the Beehive, a Web site devoted to connecting people to information and resources through the Internet.

“The Dayton Beehive, combined with the distribution of computers and Internet access, is an important step in bridging the digital divide in the Dayton community,” says Congressman Turner.

Donetta agrees. Her computer training included everything she needed to get started finding resources to help her become more self-sufficient. She’s also taken the HomeOwnership Center’s Financial Fitness and Home Maintenance 101 courses.

“They were great,” says Donetta. “I want to own my house in 15 years. In the classes, I learned how to avoid credit card scams and take care of my home. I recently recaulked around the tub and toilets and added a pollen filter to my furnace.”

According to a 2007 study by the Pew Internet & American Life Project, only 30 percent of adults living in households with less than $30,000 in annual income had high-speed Internet access, compared to 46 percent of those whose income is between $30,000 and $50,000.  A U.S. Department of Commerce survey showed that when low-income users go online, they are more likely than high-income users to complete school assignments and search for jobs. Other studies show a correlation between home Internet access and higher grades among low-income students.

Donetta is also using her new computer to get involved in her community. She plans to do online research to see who she needs to contact to get “Children Playing” signs posted in her neighborhood. She’s also interested in asking the City of Dayton to put up some light poles. Donetta recently gathered a group of neighborhood kids to help pick up trash on her street.

“We had a PC before but it wasn’t on the Internet,” says Donetta. “The kids use PCs and the Internet at school. It helps them a lot. But this is the first time we’ve had the Internet at home.”

This is the first time the Bennetts have had Internet access at home. Studies show that when low-income users go online, they are more likely than high-income users to complete school assignments and search for jobs.

Children in low-income families with home Internet access

get higher grades.

We work toward the day when

all residents of southwest Ohio -- especially the economically disadvantaged -- have a decent, affordable

place to live and become part of a thriving community.