Community Voice Mail Helps Austin Goodwill Clients Overcome Barrier of Having No Phone

Thanks to its referral of clients to an administrative partner, Goodwill Industries of Central Texas is able to connect Austin residents with jobs through a vital link-a stable phone number. Community Voice Mail, a nonprofit organization started 15 years ago in Seattle, WA, provides free voice mail boxes to homeless people and others in need, so they have a phone number to include on job applications and government service forms.

Last year, 46,000 U.S. residents in 37 cities used a voice mail box from Community Voice Mail. Nine months after kicking off in Austin, 430 local residents are now using the voice mail system, according to a story published December 3 in the Austin-American Statesman. The service-run by the Austin Travis County Mental Health Mental Retardation Center-helps people independently retrieve their own phone message.

"Many of these folks have gained jobs and regained stability," said Teresa Jedinak, program coordinator for the Austin Travis County Mental Health Mental Retardation Center.

"Some of them have moved away and dropped off the face of the earth. It's the nature of the beast." But for once-homeless residents like Evangaline and William Taylor, the voice mail system and Goodwill's job placement services have made all the difference in improving their lives.

"Just because you're homeless doesn't mean you shouldn't be able to communicate," Evangaline Taylor said. "[Community Voice Mail] was such a blessing.

citation or copyright info

back to news