Mission

Chrysalis is a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating a pathway to self-sufficiency for homeless and low-income individuals by providing the resources and support needed to find and retain employment.

History

In 1984, at 22 years old, John Dillon arrived in Los Angeles to work on Skid Row, assisting the area's homeless population. What he saw was an emerging crisis and an urgent need to help the homeless. He founded Chrysalis as a food and clothing distribution center, serving men and women living on the streets of Los Angeles' Skid Row.

As the agency grew, it became clear that long-term solutions were needed in order to eradicate poverty and homelessness. Chrysalis developed an effective and nationally recognized program to help homeless and low-income individuals become job ready so that they may find and retain employment.

Learn about our first 25 years of fighting poverty & homelessness through our digital timeline. Click here to view the PDF.

Philosophy

Chrysalis' philosophy is that a steady job is the single most important step in a person's transition out of poverty and onto a pathway to long-term self-sufficiency. Offering a hand up, rather than a hand out, Chrysalis empowers its clients to complete a self-directed job search.

Transitional Jobs Program

Since 1991, Chrysalis Enterprises has provided transitional jobs for our clients with the greatest barriers to employment. By providing valuable work experience, Chrysalis Enterprises helps clients gain the necessary skills needed to re-enter the job market. In 2012, Chrysalis Enterprises created over 262,000 hours of employment and generated $2.1 million in wages.

Centers

Chrysalis operates three centers that are located where homelessness and poverty are most pervasive: on Skid Row in Downtown Los Angeles, Santa Monica, and in the Pacoima area of the San Fernando Valley.