James Foster

Manager, Community Voice Mail Canada @Luma Native Housing Society

Using donated Cisco Systems technology, Lu\'ma\'s Community Voice Mail program provides banks of live, local telephone numbers with personal greeting and voice mail to 120 GVRD social service providers who work to alleviate homelessness, poverty and crisis in Calgary, Prince George, Vancouver, North Vancouver, West Vancouver, Burnaby, Maple Ridge, Surrey, Whalley, New Westminster, Aldergrove, Langley, Coquitlam and Port Coquitlam, Prince George and Calgary. CVM builds the confidence and dignity of those who need it most, when they need it most.and bridges poverty stigma so that goals can be reached. It \"connects the dots\" between social services and the successful outcomes we want for our most vulnerable,\"at risk\" citizens! Vancouver Outcomes to Date: 635 homeless - HOUSED 635 unemployed - WORKING 466 in need achieved HEALTH CARE 533 in need connected to SOCIAL SERVICES 359 fleeing abuse had SAFE COMMUNICATION 385 had CONTACT WITH FAMILY 287 with no resources achieved INCOME RELATED goalsThat\'s 3,300 successful Community Voice Mail outcomes to date in Vancouver alone!