Leveraging Automation to Reconnect Homeless Individuals with Their Families: A Case Study on Miracle Messages

Miracle Messages, a nonprofit organization, was faced with the challenge of reconnecting individuals isolated by homelessness with their long-lost loved ones. The organization relied on a small team and a network of volunteers to track down these loved ones, a process that was time-consuming and complex. The team was trying to achieve a significant impact while managing a large team of remote volunteers. Sharing information efficiently was a major challenge, as the team had to document and share every voicemail left by the homeless individuals. The process was not only labor-intensive but also required a significant amount of time, which could have been used to support and train volunteers, facilitate reconnections, and help the homeless individuals find resources and support.

Miracle Messages is a nonprofit organization founded by Kevin F. Adler in honor of his Uncle Mark, who lived on-and-off the streets for 30 years due to schizophrenia. The organization's mission is to reconnect individuals isolated by homelessness with their long-lost loved ones. The team, along with a network of volunteers, does the detective work necessary to make these reconnections possible. The organization believes in using technology for social good and aims to make an immediate and tangible impact in the lives of their neighbors living on-and-off the streets.