People text what they need, like FOOD, SHELTER OPEN, or RENT HELP, to your organization’s own number. Within seconds they get the best matches back: places open now first, each with its status, address, and phone number.
What you need
- A Twilio account and phone number that can send and receive texts. You pay Twilio directly for the number and messages.
- Open Door Directory Pro.
Step 1: Get a number in Twilio
- Create an account at twilio.com.
- In the Twilio Console, buy a phone number with SMS capability. A local number in your area code is familiar to the people you serve.
- Complete Twilio’s registration for business texting. In the United States, local numbers need A2P 10DLC registration and toll-free numbers need toll-free verification before Twilio will deliver messages. Twilio walks you through it; approval can take a few days.
Step 2: Copy your Auth Token
On the Twilio Console home page, find Account Info and copy your Auth Token.
Step 3: Turn it on in WordPress
Go to Resources > Settings > Pro > Text-message lookup:
- Check Answer text messages.
- Paste your Twilio auth token. It is stored securely and never shown again; leave the box blank later to keep it.
- Enter Your text number (shown in replies to HELP).
- Optional: choose Results per reply (1 to 5), a Directory link to add to replies, and a Reply footer (by default “In crisis? Call or text 988.”).
- Click Save Changes, then copy the webhook URL shown under Answer text messages.
Step 4: Connect Twilio to your site
- In the Twilio Console, go to Phone Numbers > Manage > Active numbers and click your number.
- Under Messaging Configuration, set A message comes in to Webhook.
- Paste the webhook URL and choose HTTP POST.
- Save.
Step 5: Test it
On the Pro settings tab, Try a text message shows exactly how the directory will reply, without sending anything. Then text your number from a phone.
What people can text
| Text | Reply |
|---|---|
A need, like food or legal help | The best matches, open places first |
Add open or now, like shelter open | Only places open right now |
MORE | The next results |
HELP | How to use the service, with example words |
STOP | Twilio unsubscribes them automatically |
Category names work, along with common words like pantry, groceries, rent, lawyer, doctor, dentist, counselor, job, and bus.
Privacy and security
- Every request is checked against Twilio’s signature, so only Twilio can trigger replies.
- The sender’s phone number is never stored. Texts count toward search insights anonymously.
If your site is behind a proxy or CDN and Twilio reaches it at a different address than WordPress expects, replies may be refused. A developer can set the exact address with the opendoor_pro_sms_webhook_url filter.
Still stuck? Email us