HUD Neighborhood Networks Coordinator Profile: Faith Ballenger, Helena Field Office

Information by State  Print version   Faith Ballenger is the HUD Neighborhood Networks Coordinator in the Helena Field Office.

Long before television mogul Ted Turner and late-night comedian David Letterman became residents, Faith Ballenger knew there was something special about the state of Montana. A true native of the "Treasure State," Ballenger was born, raised, educated, and has spent her entire professional career working for organizations in Montana. So in 1998, when Ballenger was asked if she would take on the role of U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Neighborhood Networks Coordinator for the Helena Field Office, in addition to serving as an Associate Community Builder, she gladly accepted.

As a HUD Neighborhood Networks Coordinator, Ballenger was tasked with visiting each major city in the state to encourage property owners to become a part of HUD's three-year-old Neighborhood Networks Initiative. The opportunity not only enabled Ballenger to see more of her home state, it also helped her do her part in delivering technology access to Montana's underserved communities.

A Mission Worthy of Supporting

As an employee in HUD's Office of Field Policy and Management, Ballenger was familiar with Neighborhood Networks and recognized the vital role the Initiative plays in bridging the technology divide. After reviewing the lessons learned and testimonials from the more than 500 Neighborhood Networks centers that were in existence at the time, Ballenger traveled the length and breadth of the state encouraging property owners and managers to establish computer centers on their HUD Federal Housing Administration (FHA)-insured and -assisted properties. More than 10 years after Ballenger became a HUD Neighborhood Networks Coordinator, the 14 fully functioning Montana Neighborhood Networks centers in Anaconda, Billings, Butte, Choteau, Fort Benton, Great Falls, Havre, Helena, and Missoula are a testament to Ballenger's commitment to the Initiative.

An Ambassador for Access

Ballenger views her role as HUD Neighborhood Networks Coordinator to be an ambassador for the Initiative. She believes now, more than ever, in the Neighborhood Networks mission to deliver technology access to America's communities.

"We live in the computer age, and being able to operate and access information with the computer are crucial skills to possess," explained Ballenger. "The computer is changing the way we communicate, and changing the world we live in. Consider the recent presidential elections. Then-presidential candidate Barack Obama used his own personal Web site and Internet forums such as You Tube, MySpace, and Twitter, to relay his message of change to the American public. After the election, he promised to continue using the Internet to communicate with us. Computer technology, particularly the Internet, is the way of the present and definitely the way of the future. No person should be left out of the loop of the information super highway."

Delivering Technology and More

Ballenger also sees firsthand the tremendous impact nontechnology center programs have on residents. At Montana centers, adults receive job training, education, and support services; children and youth participate in afterschool programs that offer academic enrichment, skill-building, and safe recreational activities; and residents with disabilities can access programs and services that enable them to maintain healthy and productive lives, as well as increase activity and social interaction. Specific programs include General Educational Development (GED) classes, microenterprise development programs, and afterschool learning programs.

"The majority of the Montana centers are HUD senior properties," reported Ballenger. "These centers offer seniors activities such as health clinics that provide blood pressure checks, podiatry services, and access to health information. There is also the social aspect of getting senior residents together to learn new things, participate in recreational activities, read the daily newspapers, conduct online banking transactions, and communicate with loved ones and friends all across the world. Since visiting our centers and learning new computer skills, a number of senior residents have purchased their own computers."

Seeing Strengthens Believing

Seeing the difference center programs make in the lives of individuals and families is why Ballenger devotes much of her time to helping new and existing center staff develop and organize programs and business plans, connect with partners in the community, keep volunteers interested, locate state-of-the-art equipment, and navigate the process of operating and sustaining a center. It is also why she continues to share with property owners and managers the importance of Neighborhood Networks centers, and how the Initiative benefits them, their residents, and the community. Ballenger also works closely with the Rocky Affordable Housing Management Association (AHMA) to spread the word about Neighborhood Networks. In fact, in 2008, Ballenger worked closely with the editor of the Rocky AHMA newsletter to place an article promoting Neighborhood Networks. The newsletter is distributed to Rocky AHMA's many members.

In the fall of 2008, Ballenger's HUD Neighborhood Networks Coordinator responsibilities were increased to include oversight of all centers in Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming. Despite this large geographic coverage, Ballenger does not feel one bit overwhelmed.

"Being a Neighborhood Networks Coordinator is fun," stated Ballenger. "I love it. Seeing seniors interact with one another, taking computer classes, and then using e-mail for the very first time to reach out to loved ones around the world is wonderful. Watching children learn and have fun with other children in an afterschool program held in a decent, safe environment proves that the effort is all worth it. My hope is that the number of Neighborhood Networks centers will continue to grow, not only in my region, but nationwide. This will allow more children and families to have access to the wonderful world of computers, be able to take college and vocational classes online to further their education, and learn marketable skills."

For more information on Neighborhood Networks centers in Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming, contact:

Faith A. Ballenger, Operations Analyst
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Helena Field Office
7 West Sixth Avenue
Helena, MT 59601
(406) 449-5050