After years of working laborious odd-jobs and nearly four years of experiencing homelessness, Paul was tired. Unsure of how to connect to job opportunities that aligned with his interests, he decided to pay a visit to Chrysalis’ Downtown Los Angeles center at the recommendation of a few community members in the Skid Row neighborhood. A […]
LOOKING BACK AND CHARTING STEPS FORWARD 2020 YEAR IN REVIEW & 2021 GOALS Last February, our spring newsletter highlighted a study noting that homelessness and jobs were projected to be a top concern for Californians during the 2020 election. Less than a month later, the world’s collective attention shifted to the pandemic and the subsequent […]
Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, LAHSA reported that two-thirds of adults cited economic hardship or loss of a job as what caused them to experience homelessness. Our work at Chrysalis centers around meeting people where they are, and this includes times when quickly reconnecting to the workforce could prevent someone from losing their home or […]
TJ observed as an individual working on the Venice Beach Boardwalk collected trash and maintained the area. He felt a sense of pride seeing this. With an over 100-year family history in the Venice community – and in between jobs at the time – TJ wanted to know how he could secure a similar position, […]
Geoffrey looks forward to waking up before the sun, getting in his work truck, and heading to the job site each morning. As he reflects on a lifetime of work history and over ten years of combined service in the army and navy, he can’t recall enjoying and thriving in a job as much as […]
When Aaron describes life growing up as a young boy and teenager, he illustrates a poignant picture of frequently searching for sustenance in dumpsters and navigating living in vehicles and on the street with his mother in the Venice community. “We were always struggling,” he shares, “I had no real foundation for feeling like I […]
Nearly a hundred Thermal-Vac Technology staff members come together almost weekly to share updates and celebrate wins across the company. For La Donna, moments of togetherness and building team morale like this were things she had always heard about but had never before experienced. She describes the supportive and encouraging culture at her job fondly, […]
Some time ago, Antonio stood at a crossroads: get sober or lose his three daughters. Faced with the possibility of losing what mattered most, his resolve to change his life was stronger than ever. When Antonio was ready to reconnect with the workforce, Chrysalis was there with the professional support he needed to get on a pathway to self-sufficiency.
Move-in days at the property LaShonda manages are some of her favorite days. She describes one resident’s first day in the building: “I was really excited to get her in and say, ‘Welcome home!’ Her energy was awesome!” As property manager of the 76-unit apartment building, LaShonda says that no two days look the same, […]
Tresa’s feet hurt – and her shoes were literally starting to fall apart. Despite the physical and emotional exhaustion she felt, she knew she had to take another step forward. Her family depended on it. When her Chrysalis Employment Specialist provided her with a gift card to cover the cost of a new pair of […]
A white van pulled up outside of a convenience store in Anaheim and several individuals clad in orange piled out. Immediately, Stephanie recognized the logo on the vehicle, which belonged to what she knew as a Los Angeles County-based organization that she had heard of but never visited. After a brief chat with the crew, […]
Young Graham sounded out the words in a newspaper article he had found in the house. His grandmother sat by his side, gently correcting him as he read aloud. These evening lessons were a daily ritual, and by the time Graham went to Kindergarten, he could already read and write. In the years to come, […]
Ismael sits behind the wheel of a large delivery truck packed with lumber. Some days, he might find himself transporting the cargo to Fresno or Sacramento, while on others he might be headed south toward Las Vegas or San Diego. Regardless of the destination, Ismael’s focus is on getting the job done well and appreciating […]
Michael admits that he veered off track in life a few times growing up. “I had my share of trying to be involved with gangs and drugs, but over time, I realized that wasn’t the life for me.” During one particular detour – his last sentence of three-and-a-half years in prison – Michael received word […]
A spirit of love fills Antonio and Suzette’s home. On a weekend afternoon, you might find Suzette reading on the porch with Antonio close by, caring for the family’s beloved dogs. Arrive at another time, and the place may be brimming with friends and family, warm laughter and voices filling the air. It is a […]
Flomanda vividly remembers living under a bridge in Downtown Los Angeles with her mother and two brothers at 8 years old. The years that followed would be marked by instability, substance abuse, and life in and out of the criminal justice system. At 17, and still a child herself, Flomanda became a mother and began a journey of finding herself so she could build a better future for her family.
Garrick’s workday kicks off at 6:30 in the morning with the arrival of a photograph. Pictured is a map indicating where he and his team will be providing outreach services for the day to some of L.A. County’s most vulnerable populations. As a member of a Homeless Outreach and Proactive Engagement (HOPE) Team, Garrick and […]
Reporter Tanya McRae with Spectrum News recently visited our Chrysalis San Fernando Valley center to film a story about a Chrysalis client who overcame addiction and homelessness and went on to run his own business. Watch the piece, and check out Antonio’s success story in our newsroom!
Growing up in South Central Los Angeles, where a soundtrack of gunshots and helicopters seemed to play on repeat, Cordaro struggled to find the motivation to steer his life in any particular direction. A 6-year prison sentence stopped Cordaro in his tracks, motivating him to build a better life for himself and his family. With support from Chrysalis, Cordaro landed a job and changed his future.
When a caterpillar enters its chrysalis stage, it begins to transform from an immature, inactive larva into a beaming butterfly. Myron Tobin, a 57-year-old South Central native, entered his chrysalis stage in 2013 when he was released from prison after 33 years.
In 1984, John Dillon founded Chrysalis, Apple released the first commercially successful computer, and Myron was looking back on his first two years in prison. It would be another three decades before he would arrive at Chrysalis and start a massive game of catch-up with the world and technology.
When Johnny was ready to reconnect to the workforce after over 20 years without stable employment, Chrysalis was there to help. Now, more than a decade later, Johnny is still telling his story to encourage and inspire.
Ernie spent much of his life going in circles, in and out of prison, with no destination in sight. When his Employment Specialist asked him what he wanted to do for work, he felt empowered to change his trajectory and reshape his future for what felt like the first time in his life.
After a 4-year cycle of substance abuse and unstable housing, Maria came to Chrysalis and found a place where she could heal and ready herself to return to her career as a real estate broker. Now, she inspires others with her story. Learn about her journey and how a very special workshop series empowered Maria as an individual and business woman.
With years of solid work history and a college degree, Katherine never imagined she would lose her livelihood and her home. As she grappled with the reality of beginning a job search in her 60s, she knew she needed someone in her corner.
Jayson was faced with challenges after he left that army that lead him to substance abuse and more than 17 years of homelessness. He came to Chrysalis for a fresh start. Now, he transforms discarded carbon fiber into skateboards – a job that has transformed his life.
A native Texan, Byron left a history of drug use and a life in and out of the criminal justice system behind and moved to L.A. He was ready for a change, but he was struggling to land a job because of his past.
Jonathan grew up with little supervision in a rough neighborhood in the San Fernando Valley. Early on, he established himself as a troublemaker, often following the example of the older neighborhood boys. His first trip to Juvenile Hall at 14 years old marked the beginning of 20 years of intermittent jail and prison sentences.
While living out of his car, Demetrious tried to hang on to some semblance of his past. He found comfort in his art, drawing the landscape – hard streets decorated with his fellow neighbors living in various states of homelessness.
Latasha came to L.A. to pursue a career helping others. But after her first employer moved the organization to another state and a second opportunity fell through due to economic downturn, she found herself in a tough spot.