April 4, 2011
Free Community Voice Mail at Risk of Disappearing
The line connecting some Travis County residents to the outside world could soon go dead...
March 16, 2011
Homelessness in Vancouver, BC
Vancouver CVM Manager, James Foster was interviewed by CBC Radio about the one-year old CVM program in his community. Listen here.
March 15, 2011
Free phone numbers keep Vancouver downtrodden connected
If you can’t afford a phone but you’re searching for a job what would you cite as contact information on an application? What if you’ve had important medical tests done but had no number for the doctor to call with the results? How would you know if there was an emergency with a loved one? Read more
January 3, 2011
Community Voice Mail National Named a Semifinalist in Lodestar Foundation’s 2011 Collaboration Prize
Community Voice Mail National has been selected as a semifinalist for the 2011 Collaboration Prize created by The Lodestar Foundation, an organization dedicated to maximizing the growth and impact of philanthropy. Each of the 20 semifinalists, chosen from over 800 submissions, represents a successful collaboration created between two or more nonprofit organizations...
December 2010
A Day in the Life of the Day Center
Without a permanent home, people at the Day Center do not have access to a regular landline phone, says Lori Morton, program manager for Tulsa Community Voice Mail. Although some Day Center clients use pay-by-the-minute cell phones, minutes often run out by the end of the month, compromising that person’s ability to remain connected. CVM, however, is more reliable and consistent, conserving minutes for clients by helping them determine whom to call back...
December 2, 2010
Keeping Clark County homeless connected
When an emergency weather alert went out the weekend before Thanksgiving, Ken Burris broadcast the alert to hundreds of homeless people — via voice mail and an Internet blog. When a free breast cancer screening clinic was scheduled, Burris put out the word. And when there’s a free museum night at OMSI or an open event for kids at the Water Resources Education Center, Burris gets it out there via voice mail and the Web...
November 27, 2010
Join 'Community Voice Mail National' Facebook and make a difference
Join the community on Facebook and understand how you can help. Donate, volunteer, and assist others to get back on their feet. Together, we can make a different, one tool at a time...
November 22, 2010
Art Show and Sale Benefits Council for the Homeless Community Voice Mail
The local art community is rallying support for Community Voice Mail, by donating as many as 40 pieces of art that will be on display Friday December 3, 2010 from 2pm-9pm, at 812 Main Street in downtown Vancouver...
November 11, 2010
Helping The Homeless And Others Find Jobs In Tulsa
Lori Morton with the Tulsa Day Center collects information about job fair job openings, health fairs, and even events for Veterans and she sends out a mass message. That message goes out once a week to users...
October 28, 2010
Info Line celebrates history of service
Residents who are homeless or in transition can benefit from Info Line’s Community Voice Mail program, which started up in 2008. Staff works with partner agencies to set up voice mailboxes for clients so they have a reliable way to receive messages from family members, medical providers and potential employers and landlords...
May 19, 2010
St. Paul nonprofit offers mobile phones to homeless job-seekers
A St. Paul nonprofit started distributing cell phones last month to homeless residents. It's part of a small pilot program to show how cell phones can help people in transition find jobs and permanent housing, as well as stay better connected with family, friends and agencies...
April 30, 2010
Giving voice(mail) to the homeless
Lu’ma Native Housing Society has launched a program to provide phone numbers and voice-mail boxes to homeless -- as well as phoneless -- Canadians...
April 28, 2010
Keeping a connection
When a potential employer wants to call you back, having to admit you don't have a phone can be a deal-breaker.
Mischelle McMillan of West Homestead knows firsthand how awkward that situation is...
March 23, 2010
United Way gives free voice mail service to needy
The unemployed and homeless in Richmond and Columbia counties have a way to remain connected thanks to the United Way of the CSRA...
December 15, 2009
Delivering HIV Testing Messages to the Homeless Through Community Voice Mail
Listen to an audio version of the AIDS.gov blog, where
Steve Albertson discusses how Community Voice Mail shares HIV information with 'phoneless' clients...
December 15, 2009
Delivering HIV Testing Messages to the Homeless Through Community Voice Mail
Even in the Internet age, having a phone number that works is an important part of staying connected to people and services that can keep you healthy. Many people who experience homelessness have HIV, and there are a lot of reasons why...
November 13, 2009
Voicemail Service Keeps Homeless Connected
A local program is helping Tulsa's homeless connect with a better life. It's something many people take for granted, but it's offering messages of hope to hundreds...
September 20, 2009
13 cents makes a difference in Washington state
KOMO News in Seattle just broadcast a great piece about the Washington Telephone Assistance Program, which uses federal Universal Service Fund dollars to provide discounted phone service to people receiving various forms of public assistance...
September 18, 2009
Connecting Through Community Voice Mail
Five months ago, Harris came to Washington, D.C., only to join the 15,000 homeless in the D.C. area. That’s when he hit bottom, but decided to get up and start running again. Harris moved into a shelter and enrolled in the CVM program and started using the number as a contact point...
September 9, 2009
Can’t Pay Your Phone Bill?
Gov. Christine Gregoire has signed a proclamation declaring Sept. 14-20 Washington Telephone Assistance Program (WTAP) Awareness Week, in coordination with a national effort sponsored by the Utilities and Transportation Commission (UTC) and National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners...
June 12, 2009
CVM partners with AIDS.gov for HIV Testing Day
Community Voice Mail launched a campaign with AIDS.gov to inform our clients around the country about free or low-cost HIV testing resources in local communities...
June 8, 2009
Cisco Practicing Hands-On Philanthropy
Cisco System's money, technology, and know-how have been vital to increasing Community Voice Mail's ability to offer free voice mail services to homeless people...
June 2009
CVM partners with Hybrid Media
Community Voice Mail will receive philanthropic donations through the aid of green advertising agency Hybrid Media by matching high profile companies and Community Voice Mail as part of philanthropic co-branding opportunities...
May 27, 2009
CVM at NetSquared Conference
On May 27, Community Voice Mail's Jessica Dally presented on health issues and mobile technology highlighting the work Community Voice Mail is doing with the Centers for Disease Control and AIDS.gov...
April 30, 2009
'Sleep Out' Event Shows Support for Homeless
The second annual Duke City Sleep Out is sponsored by the Metropolitan Homelessness Project, which operates a 74-bed men's emergency shelter, veterans' transitional housing and around-the-clock respite care. It also offers free phone numbers and voice mail...
April 28, 2009
CVM and Centers for Disease Control Team Up to Distribute Important Information About the Swine Flu (H1N1 Virus)
Community Voice Mail (CVM) and Centers for Disease Control (CDC) have teamed up to provide important public health information to CVM clients regarding the recent Swine Flu outbreak (H1N1 virus)...
April 27, 2009
Lifeline to Justice: CVM Helps Inmates and Defenders Connect
Through an innovative initiative launched this month, public defenders in King County will now be able to communicate via voice mail with their in-custody clients. This saves time and money for the jail system, and for the public defenders...
April 6, 2009
Voice-mail program can help people find jobs, housing
Tara Strickland of Akron was homeless, jobless and a single mother. It was hard to get a job because she didn't have a call-back phone number to give out. Strickland, 32, and her 12-year-old son lived in a shelter...
March 27, 2009
Community Voice Mail
It's difficult to find a place to live or get a job without a way to be contacted. That's why a local tool is available to aid the homeless and low-income famillies...
March 26, 2009
Ohio's Summit County Launches CVM
Connie Krauss, Director of Community and Economic Development for Summit County Executive Russ Pry today left the first official message on Community Voice Mail Summit (CVMS) today...
March 26, 2009
A Lifeline for the Homeless
Washington DC's Friendship Place responds to an article on homelessness in the Washington Post...
March 23, 2009
Community Voice Mail Provides Real Help to Homeless and Unemployed Men and Women in Challenging Times
New York City's Partnership for the Homeless will be hosting a special CVM Kickoff Luncheon on March 31 to share the details about this lifesaving program. Clients will be on hand, and detailed program information will be available...
February 2009
CVM partners with CDC, FDA, and Dept of Health and Human Services
Community Voice Mail partnered with three federal agencies (Centers for Disease Control, Food & Drug Administration, and Department of Health & Human Services) to disseminate information to clients and agencies about the ongoing recall of peanut butter and peanut-containing products that contain Salmonella... Listen to the message and listen to client response
December 18, 2008
Homeless Experts Counter Senator Coburn's "Waste" Report
Leaders from organizations working to end homelessness in America today questioned the inclusion of Community Voice Mail (CVM) in a list of "wasteful” federal expenditures produced by U.S. Senator Tom Coburn, M.D. (R-OK). Recognizing that CVM is a hugely successful, cost-effective program operating in more than 400 towns and cities, these leaders asked that CVM be removed from this document...
Read the full "waste" report here.
November 15, 2008
Saturday Thumbs - Help for the homeless
CVM gets the thumbs up from The Daily News Online. Kudos to the Lower Columbia Community Action Program and others involved in establishing the Community Voice Mail service in Southwest Washington — the 12th such free voice mail system in the state...
November 8, 2008
Agency hosts phone service for homeless
A free voice mail system is now available in Cowlitz and Wahkiakum counties to help homeless or needy people find jobs, make medical appointments and connect with social services...