Almost half of the UK's adult population who do not use the internet live in social housing. The social and economic case for encouraging these 4.1 million tenants online is vivid: lack of access entrenches disadvantage, making it harder to find work, or to achieve in education. Also it bars tenants from opportunities to save money by accessing goods and services online.
In terms of employability alone, you are 25% more likely to find work if you have digital skills. Once in work you'll earn 10% more. For housing professionals, this skills gap prevents you providing cheaper, better and more responsive services – and realising big savings by shifting publishing, maintenance and repairs enquiries online and switching to online payments to cut rent arrears.
This status quo is clearly untenable. While many housing providers already have digital strategies, we now need to be much bolder about how we tackle this skills gap. To provide a really clear rational for action we've worked with organisations including the Chartered Institute of Housing and the National Housing Federation, as well as housing associations Peabody and Affinity Sutton and the UK Online Foundation. Together we've quantified the total social and economic gains of bringing these groups online. It amounts to a dramatic £3bn.
To break that total down a bit, if just 3.5% of those in social housing who are both offline and unemployed got online and found work the net economic benefit would be more than £200m. Inspiring and encouraging those in work online would deliver a further £750m.
Residents could save £500m a year just from paying bills and shopping online, and there are profound health and wellbeing benefits too, especially in terms of increased social contact and confidence among older tenants.
With such a compelling social and business case I'd urge you to read and share our report with other housing providers, and take your own action to make an immediate dent in the unacceptable number of UK citizens who are offline.
At a minimum, join the Social Housing Providers Digital Inclusion Strategy Group to share insight, expertise and buying clout, and sign up as a Race Online 2012 partner to access our digital champion toolkits for staff and communities, to communicate the benefits of web access, run your own Go On local events and signpost residents to free or low-cost training.
I think it's now vital, and achievable, that housing professionals rise to the challenge (and opportunity) of bringing your residents online too. This commitment would be important at any time, but in the current economic climate, it's essential to give your residents all the tools and skills to manage their lives.
Martha Lane Fox is the UK's digital champion and co-founder of lastminute.com
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