Most days, Tom is up before the sun. As he expertly maneuvers a massive sanitation truck down Santa Monica’s narrow streets, he’s occasionally greeted by impatient honks or stares from residents in a hurry to get on with their morning. With a respectful nod, he remains focused on providing what is often an overlooked essential service. He takes pride in his role in maintaining the rhythm of city life and keeping his community clean.
In stark contrast, Tom used to wake up each morning in the cramped confines of his vehicle. For nearly a decade, he lived inconspicuously out of his van—an affordable alternative to paying rent and preferable to sleeping on the streets. For years, he worked odd jobs, earning just enough to keep his vehicle registration current. Any additional funds went toward substances that fueled his addiction.
“The doctor gave me a little push with reality, saying ‘If you want to be alive, you need to make a big change.”
After living in that cycle for so long, Tom was shocked when he was abruptly fired—a moment he now reflects on as a blessing in disguise. Also faced with health issues, Tom experienced a harsh wakeup call when an honest healthcare provider looked him in the eyes and delivered him a certain truth: if he continued his lifestyle, he wouldn’t survive much longer. This stark reality jumpstarted Tom’s desire for something more, something different.
If there was one thing he had observed in his years of substance use, it was that he wasn’t going to arrive at a different outcome by continuing to make the same choices. So he stepped out of circles that enabled his addiction and into a substance use counseling group. The space was one that welcomed him back every time, allowing him to gradually leave behind what had felt like a lifetime of dependency. He reflects, “Once I stopped altogether, I discovered that I had all of this time.”
“At Chrysalis having a schedule and a structure that I had to be accountable for was really important for me to take the next step.”
After being disconnected from the workforce for nearly a year, Tom joined Chrysalis’ program motivated to use his free time wisely and confident that he would find the support he needed to take positive steps forward. What he didn’t expect was getting stopped in his tracks upon arriving four minutes late to one of our job-readiness classes. While initially very heated by being told to come back the next day, Tom now recognizes the moment as a pivotal lesson on the importance of timeliness and accountability—qualities foundational to the standard he aspires to live by today.
With support from his employment specialist, Tom outlined his professional goals and utilized our computer lab to submit online job applications. Faced with no after no and an ever-changing job market in the wake of the pandemic, Tom was referred to a transitional job with the street maintenance division of our employment social enterprise. The opportunity allowed him to earn a paycheck and build on his developing soft skills while contributing to a cleaner community across the City of Los Angeles and Venice Beach.
When a permanent supervisory role with our organization presented itself, Tom respectfully declined. He had his eyes set on a public sector job and went on to land a position with Big Blue Bus and the City of Santa Monica. For nearly a year, he worked nights cleaning, refueling, and performing safety checks on the buses. The hours were hard, but Tom knew that he was taking steps in the right direction. His persistence ultimately paid off when he was offered his current role as equipment operator with the City of Santa Monica.
“The key is to be consistent and not give up. It’s not a race. It’s a marathon. It doesn’t matter how fast you get to the goal, as long as you’re working on making strides.”
Today, Tom’s life is anchored in purpose. He’s no longer trapped in his car or bound by a cycle of self-destructive decisions. Instead, he proudly celebrates his sobriety, having stable housing, and the reliable reputation he has built at work and in life—punctuality included.
Let Tom’s positive, essential contributions to our community serve as an important reminder to be especially kind to those who work behind the scenes to keep our communities safe and healthy. Chrysalis is proud to be part of Tom’s story and honored to share his journey. As he moves forward, his experience illuminates the way for others striving for change, affirming our belief that everyone deserves an opportunity to not just work, but truly thrive.