Connect (alpha)
Connect waits on hold so you don't have to.
We're working on Connect because waiting on hold sucks and low-income families spend a disproportionate amount of time on hold. In particular, we're working with the San Francisco Human Services Agency to reduce the amount of time CalFresh clients and their advocates have to wait on hold when calling the Agency.
FAQ
How did it start?
It started as an idea to help social service clients in San Francisco.
What does Alpha mean?
Alpha means you shouldn't count on it working tomorrow. This is an experiment for now. Once it's stable enough to use we'll upgrade move it to Beta.
How does it work?
Connect uses Twilio to initiate a phone call and do the waiting part on the user's behalf. When someone answers the phone, Connect calls you back.
How much does it cost?
It's free for the user, but Twilio isn't free, so somebody has to pay. In general, it costs 2c/min of hold time + 4c/min of talk time once the call connects.