What is Community Voice Mail?

 Community Voice Mail Summit (CVMS) is a program of Info Line Inc. and is modeled after the initial program started in Seattle (www.cvm.org). CVMS offers a tool to homeless and low-income people to empower them in their job or apartment search. When an employer calls, they hear only the voice of the client, just as if they had reached a home phone. This program increases client’s opportunity to move towards self-sufficiency by directly linking them to jobs, housing, information, and hope.

 How Does Community Voice Mail Work?

CVMS works with partner agencies to distribute voice mail boxes to clients who are looking to be linked with jobs, housing, healthcare, social services, family/friends and who are looking for a secure way to flee domestic violence. Partner agencies are assigned a group of voice mail boxes for distribution to their clients. Each partner agency is responsible for determining which clients will benefit from a voice mail box based on the established criteria and the client’s needs. The purpose and length of use for the voice mail box varies depending on the mission of the partner agency and the service plan objective of the client.

 The process of assigning a box to a client is as simple as filling out an intake/outcome form, giving him/her the telephone number the box is connected with, creating a password, recording a professional greeting, and a brief training on how to access and use the new tool. The CVMS Coordinator will provide the partner agency training on how to enroll clients.

 After a client reaches their goal the voice mail box is re-set and re-issued to a new client.

 Why Community Voice Mail?

“Because you can’t get a job without a phone number.” CVMS provides connection plus service which is the critical difference between giving clients a free phone and providing them with a Community Voice Mail number. Along with 24 hour access to voice mail and consistent contact with case workers, clients and partner agencies can take advantage of our advanced features. (See attached list).

 How Much Does It Cost?

This service is always free to the client. However, a cost of $1.50 per box, per month is passed along to the partner agency.

  How To Become A Partner Agency?