Eligibility

To qualify for our JEDI Digital Services, community members must meet the following criteria based on the type of device requested:

General Eligibility Criteria:

  1. Residency:
    • Must reside within our service areas or priority communities.
    • Priority communities include:
      • Metro North: Cambridge, Chelsea, Everett, Somerville, Revere
      • Northshore: Gloucester, Lynn, Rockport, Salem
  2. Income Eligibility:
    • Must meet one of the following:
      • Receive public benefits (e.g., SNAP, TANF, ACP).
      • Reside in a HUD Qualified Census Tract.
      • Have a household income at or below 65% of the Area Median Income (AMI).
      • Have a household income at or below 300% of Federal Poverty Guidelines.
  3. Digital Literacy Requirements:
    • Must demonstrate basic technical skills, such as:
      • Sending emails
      • Saving and locating files
      • Using a browser and connecting to Wi-Fi
    • Eligibility is confirmed if the individual answers “Yes” to at least 50% of a standard skills assessment.
  4. Purpose:
    • Must demonstrate a need for the device for career development, education, or personal development.
  5. Agreement to Program Terms:
    • Must agree to provide demographic data (reported only in aggregate) and comply with program usage guidelines.

Laptop Distribution Criteria:

  • Meet the general eligibility criteria listed above.
  • Demonstrate interest in improving career or educational opportunities.

Hotspot Distribution Criteria:

  • Reside in a priority community (listed above).
  • Lack a current home internet plan.
  • Provide a valid reason for not having internet access, such as:
    • Lack of understanding of available plans.
    • High costs of internet services.
  • If not eligible for a low-cost internet plan, a hotspot may be recommended.

Intermediate/Advanced Device Distribution (Special Cases):

  1. Training Alignment:
    • Must be enrolled in or express interest in intermediate or advanced digital literacy training (e.g., UI/UX, web development, or inventory management).
  2. Assessment:
    • Demonstrate familiarity with course-specific tools or terms (e.g., Figma for UI/UX, HTML for web development).

Notes:

  • Eligibility for tech support and community care resources does not require meeting these criteria.
  • For any device recommendation, Digital Navigators will assist in completing applications and guiding community members through the process.

For questions or additional assistance, contact your nearest Digital Navigator or visit our website.