Nonprofit a boon to job seekers despite tough times
Bob Strauss (DailyNews.com)
Business is up at Chrysalis. There must be a recession. For 25 years, the nonprofit job-enabling organi-zation has done an outstanding job of helping homeless people, recovering addicts, ex-convicts, and the simply desperate find and keep decent employment. Its success at placing clients who complete its program in jobs has been an impressive 80 percent. With the economic downturn, however, Chrysalis' capabilities are being challenged from all directions: many more unemployed people, fewer places for them to find work, and a drop in donations that keep the outfit operating.
Bob Strauss (DailyNews.com)
Business is up at Chrysalis. There must be a recession. For 25 years, the nonprofit job-enabling organi-zation has done an outstanding job of helping homeless people, recovering addicts, ex-convicts, and the simply desperate find and keep decent employment. Its success at placing clients who complete its program in jobs has been an impressive 80 percent. With the economic downturn, however, Chrysalis' capabilities are being challenged from all directions: many more unemployed people, fewer places for them to find work, and a drop in donations that keep the outfit operating.Despite all that, Chrysalis -- which has offices in Pacoima, Santa Monica, and downtown L.A. -- is rising to the challenge and, so far, meeting it. "Though it's tough to do these days, it is possible," CEO Mark Loranger said. "And it's happening. We were able to place over 500 people in work in the first half of this year, and I know we'll do better than that in the second half. "So while it is discouraging to see so many new people coming into our centers, the fact is that our clients are having success, and that's what keeps us going every day." The Pacoima center, located in a strip mall at 14015 Van Nuys Blvd., has seen a whopping 62 percent increase in job-seekers over the past year. More>>
