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.

Today she has a job and has moved into a new apartment — thanks, in part, to the Community Voice Mail initiative.

Community Voice Mail Summit works with nonprofit partner agencies to provide voice-mail boxes that users can check any time of the day or night.

Strickland said the voice-mail program not only helped her land a job, but also has become a vital part of her life.

''It has helped me out so much,'' Strickland said. ''It helps me with doctor's appointments, to keep up with my son in school in case the school needs to get in touch with me, to pass on information from the agency and for work.

''I've been called into work early several times.''

Strickland said voice mail also helped her find new housing.

''I needed a way for potential landlords to get ahold of me,'' she said. ''It helped me find an apartment. I just moved.''

Strickland was the first one in Summit County to sign up for the program. She was introduced to the service through H.M. Life Opportunity Services, where she first sought help two years ago.

The agency provides housing and teaches life skills, money management and job-seeking skills. The service has had a contract with Community Voice Mail Summit since January.

Cassandra Boston, 36, of Akron, was also homeless and a single mother. She was living in a shelter with her 2-year-old and 9-year-old and was pregnant with a third child.

In December she also went to H.M. Life Opportunity Services.

She has had Community Voice Mail for nearly three months now.

She has a land-line telephone, but can't afford any features.

''It's a life-line phone with just the basics,'' she said. ''I can't afford any extras, like voice mail or long distance.''

The program offers voice mail as a way for those who are homeless or making a low income to get the messages that can lead to a job or apartment.

The caller hears the recorded voice of the applicant, just as if the caller had reached a home phone.

While Strickland has landed a job, Boston is still looking. In the meantime, she is working on her GED, the high school equivalent diploma.

Boston has been unemployed since April, when the Barberton plant where she had worked for eight months closed. She was unable to pay her rent and utility bills, and she and her children ended up in a shelter.

''I want to complete my GED, get a job and take care of my kids,'' Boston said. ''I hope to further my education by going to Akron U or a community college.

''I have a lot of determination, and when given the tools, I can do the footwork.''

To date, there are eight partnerships with Community Voice Mail Summit and all 500 voice-mail boxes are taken, said Mike Gibbs, the program's coordinator.

Gibbs is pushing to add 500 within the next year.

''It's a free service we offer those in crisis and transition,'' he said. He explained that the partner agencies pick up the $1 per box per month cost.

The first year's budget of $91,000 was funded through several sources, including foundations, corporations, government contracts and the United Way.

Melissa Massey-Flinn, program director at HM Life, said the staff and clients are excited to be part of the new program.

''We know firsthand how important a source of contact can be, especially for single parents,'' she said. ''Without a phone number, it's virtually impossible to find a job.

''The service has helped clients become self-sufficient, linking them directly to callers.''

Gibbs said the voice-mail program also is a valuable tool for those coming out of jail.

''It is a tangible tool up front to help remove some of the barriers attached to confinement,'' Gibbs said.

Oriana House, Summit County's privately run alternative jail program, is the largest partner agency, with 200 of the 500 voice-mail boxes. It signed up with the service in March.

Christine Savage, vice president of services for Oriana House, said the agency hopes to hand out the new voice-mail boxes in the next couple of weeks.

''It's a very easy system to use and will help our clients tremendously,'' she said.

Gibbs, who helped get a similar program established in Cleveland, said Summit is only the second county in Ohio with the service.

''We are in the planning stages of other counties in Ohio, including Stark,'' he said. ''Our ultimate goal is to go statewide.''