In a recent Los Angeles Times article, reporter Doug Smith meets with four Chrysalis clients employed in transitional jobs with Project Roomkey. The program – with sites in Los Angeles and Orange counties and developed at the State, County, and local levels – is aimed at supporting unhoused, at-risk individuals age 65 and older, without symptoms or known exposure to COVID-19, to prevent the spread of the virus. State-wide, the effort has provided temporary housing to nearly 10,000 individuals.
Thanks to partnerships with the City of Los Angeles and organizations like the National Health Foundation, Project Roomkey has also created vital employment opportunities for over 120 Chrysalis clients, who are navigating unstable housing and barriers to the workforce, to deliver support services at numerous of these locations across LA County.
Read on to meet Dwona, Jon, Jonas, and Mia – four clients who are on their individual pathways to self-sufficiency thanks to their jobs through Project Roomkey and our employment social enterprise.
Transitional jobs like those at Project Roomkey sites are made possible through programs like LA:RISE, a multi-agency collaboration led by the City and County of LA. Chrysalis is proud to have been a founding partner in LA:RISE. However, funding for LA:RISE is currently at risk – act now by supporting this work and helping us advocate for funding to continue.