As cited in the study, individuals exiting prison experience homelessness at 13 times the rate of the general population, and more than 27 percent of formerly incarcerated people are unemployed—nearly five times the national rate.*

The Los Angeles County Justice, Care and Opportunities Department’s (JCOD) Breaking Barriers program, operated by Brilliant Corners in partnership with Chrysalis, was designed to address the dual challenges of homelessness and reentry by combining rental assistance, case management, and employment services. The evaluation confirms that this integrated model is working. But it also points to a critical truth: employment is what allows stability to last.

The evaluation highlights strong housing outcomes, with more than 80 percent of participants remaining housed after one year. In a region like Los Angeles—where high rents and limited supply make housing difficult to secure—this level of stability is significant.

At the same time, the report underscores persistent structural barriers: stagnant wages, limited employer willingness to hire individuals with criminal records, and legal restrictions that narrow job opportunities. These challenges make one thing clear:

• Without reliable income, housing stability is fragile.
• Even with subsidies, participants must eventually navigate rent, utilities, and daily expenses on their own. Long-term success depends not just on accessing housing—but on being able to afford and sustain it.

The Data Points to Deep Support and Employment as Routes for Success

A closer look at the evaluation reveals that the strongest outcomes are tied not just to housing placement, but to what happens after. Although the report notes that initial outcomes were mixed, 75 percent of program participants were earning above minimum wage at graduation. We expect wage rates for participants to continue to grow over time.

The report also demonstrates how outcomes improve over longer periods. Longer housing retention was significantly associated with a higher likelihood of employment at program exit among participants housed with a subsidy during the program: the probability of employment rose from 45 percent at six months housed to 61 percent at 18 months housed. Other findings included:

• Participants placed in employment or education far exceeded program goals, demonstrating both demand for and effectiveness of workforce services
• Most employed participants earned above minimum wage, signaling progress toward livable income
• Longer program engagement was associated with improved outcomes across the board, including housing retention and reduced likelihood of incarceration

Why Employment Services Matter

As a Breaking Barriers partner, Chrysalis provides job readiness training, career planning, and transitional employment opportunities designed specifically for individuals facing barriers to work.

More than 10 years ago, when Chrysalis joined the pilot for this program, we knew this partnership would model how organizations can bring their core expertise together and, as a result, ensure better outcomes for the people utilizing services. The RAND evaluation highlights that strong coordination between housing and employment providers is central to the program’s success.

This isn’t incidental. It reflects a deeper reality:

• Housing creates the conditions for stability.
• Employment creates the conditions for independence.

Participants don’t just need a place to live; they need a pathway to earn, grow, and sustain that stability over time. If we address only one side of this equation, we risk falling short of long-term impact.

Looking Beyond: Recommendations from the Beyond Incarceration report

The RAND evaluation also offers important guidance for our community.  While program design matters, broader economic conditions—particularly wages and housing affordability—continue to shape outcomes.

To build on the success of programs like Breaking Barriers, investment strategies should:

• Integrate employment services as a core component of housing interventions
• Support workforce pathways that lead to living-wage jobs
• Address systemic barriers that limit access to employment for justice-impacted individuals

Breaking Barriers demonstrates what’s possible when housing and employment services work together and at equal levels of importance. The RAND evaluation confirms that this integrated approach can reduce recidivism, improve housing stability, and create pathways to independence.

We are incredibly proud of our program participants and our work with JCOD and Brilliant Corners, with support from the California Board of State and Community Corrections. Chrysalis is committed to continuing to provide employment-focused services as part of the Breaking Barriers program. We are grateful for the opportunity to have something we believe in so deeply evaluated—and proven to work.

Find the full Beyond Incarceration report by RAND here.

* Lucius Couloute, Nowhere to Go: Homelessness Among Formerly Incarcerated People, Prison Policy Initiative, August 2018; Lucius Couloute and Daniel Kopf, Out of Prison & Out of Work: Unemployment Among Formerly Incarcerated People, Prison Policy Initiative, July 2018.

The post Breaking Barriers: What the RAND Evaluation Reveals About Employment and Long-Term Stability first appeared on Chrysalis.

In the months following the fires, Chrysalis launched C-CREW: Chrysalis Clients Ready for Environmental Work, an initiative focused on helping people facing barriers to employment gain the skills, training, and paid experience needed to step into fire recovery and prevention jobs as well as environmental resilience jobs. What began as an emergency response has grown into a long-term workforce strategy rooted in resilience, dignity, and opportunity. 

This February, Chrysalis is piloting another training cohort! In partnership with Resilience Force, a national organization that trains and advocates for essential workers, Chrysalis put together a five-day, 40-hour wildfire prevention training designed to prepare clients for entry-level roles in fire fuels reduction and emergency incident response. The training combines classroom instruction with hands-on, supervised fieldwork and follows nationally recognized guidelines used by fire agencies across the country. 

Participants will earn certifications recognized by local, state, and federal agencies, including wildfire behavior, incident command systems, and firefighter safety fundamentals. Just as important, they will gain practical experience working as a crew—learning how to safely remove vegetation and debris in high fire-risk areas, follow environmental protections, and take direction from fire prevention professionals. 

This training builds directly on the work Chrysalis clients have already done since the fires. In 2025, Chrysalis trained more than 60 individuals in hazardous waste operations and piloted a resilience crew that worked alongside the Los Angeles Fire Department to reduce wildfire risk in the Sepulveda Basin. That work demonstrated something powerful: when given training and opportunity, people rebuilding their own lives can also help protect their communities. 

For Chrysalis, this is about more than one training or ramping up quickly for one season. Climate-driven disasters are increasing demand for skilled environmental and fire prevention workers, and these jobs can offer stability, career pathways, and living wages. Through C-CREW initiatives, Chrysalis is working to ensure that these emerging opportunities are accessible to people who have too often been left out of the workforce. 

One year after the fires, Chrysalis remains committed to a simple but powerful idea: recovery includes work, prevention includes people, and resilience is built when opportunity is shared. 

The post Building Wildfire Prevention Workforce first appeared on Chrysalis.

While emergency response ended months ago, recovery has continued—and for some, it has meant finding a way forward through work. 

In the aftermath of the fires, Chrysalis expanded its workforce programs to support wildfire recovery and prevention efforts. Clients—many of whom were already navigating homelessness or reentry—stepped into paid transitional employment, earned industry-recognized certifications, and helped protect open spaces and neighborhoods across the region. 

Over the past year, more than 50 Chrysalis clients benefited from paid training, wages, and job placement connected to wildfire recovery and environmental health work. Crews cleared hazardous vegetation, reduced fire fuel, and prepared land for safer futures—all while building skills and confidence for long-term employment. 

This work reinforced an important truth: disaster recovery is about rebuilding livelihoods. Skilled jobs, fair wages, and supportive services are essential to helping communities recover and prepare for what comes next. 

As we mark one year since the fires, Chrysalis remains committed to this work. Wildfire prevention, climate resilience, and workforce opportunity will continue to be central to our mission—because recovery doesn’t end with a single season, and neither does the need for opportunity. 

We continue to stand with everyone impacted by the fires, and we’re proud of the clients who became part of Los Angeles’ recovery story. 

Learn more about our C-CREW (Chrysalis Clients Ready for Environmental Work) program

The post One Year After Fires first appeared on Chrysalis.

This isn’t your standard petition. This is a promise. A promise to stand with someone who’s doing their best to turn the page—to rebuild their life with courage, resilience, and a job. 

Every Signature Tells Someone: You Matter 

For many of our clients, just getting to our doors takes grit. Maybe they’ve faced homelessness, have a history of incarceration, or long gaps in their work history—and still, they show up ready to do the work. They show up for themselves, their families, and their futures. 

And when you sign the pledge, you say that… 

No one should be locked out of their future. 
Everyone deserves the chance to turn the page. 
Every person who walks through our doors should have the opportunity to own their next chapter. 
And that you will continue to stand for that belief—by supporting second chances, creating opportunities, and helping others take their next step forward. 

But You Do More Than Spark a New Beginning 

Through a generous anonymous donor, every signature this July will unlock a $5 donation to Chrysalis programs—up to $12,500. That means your name isn’t just symbolic. It has the power to provide someone with job readiness training, resume and application support, as well as clothing and personal care items that make any first impression memorable! 

This is What Community Looks Like 

“Signing the pledge is a small act that says something big: I believe people can grow. I believe in progress. I believe in fresh starts,” says Mark Loranger, President & CEO. “Together, we’re helping people own the next chapter of their lives—and that changes everything.” 

Will You Be a Part of the Story? 

If doing something meaningful with just a few clicks appeals to you, this is your moment!  

Sign the pledge. Share it. Talk about it. Be someone’s reason to keep going. 

Count Me In!

Want to help spread the word even further? Here’s the flyer!

The post Own the Next Chapter: A Pledge for a New Beginning first appeared on Chrysalis.

As an organization devoted to workforce development and empowering people through employment, Chrysalis is extremely concerned for workers in its community that are being targeted.  

Statement from Chrysalis CEO Mark Loranger: 

“Immigrant workers are essential to the economic, cultural, and social fabric of Los Angeles. At Chrysalis, we see firsthand the determination and resilience of immigrant clients striving to build better lives for themselves and their families—often while navigating fear, discrimination, and barriers to employment. 

No one should live in fear while simply trying to work and provide for their family. ICE raids sow fear, disrupt families, and destabilize communities. They do not make us safer—they make us more divided. 

We stand with Mayor Bass, local leaders, and our nonprofit partners in saying clearly: Immigrant workers deserve dignity, protection, and opportunity. Chrysalis remains committed to helping all Angelenos—regardless of background—prepare for, find, and retain employment, because working and thriving in your community is a right, not a privilege.” 

The press conference highlighted the collective responsibility of employers, city leaders, and service providers to uphold the rights of workers and reject policies that criminalize people for being a part of our community and economy. 

A 2024 study by the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, found that undocumented immigrants contributed $8.5 billion in California state and local taxes in 2022. Nationally, this number grows to $96.7 billion when considering federal, state, a local taxes.  

The current ICE raids and federal government response are not making our community safer. These raids are causing fear, stress, and economic hardship for many Angelenos, regardless of immigration status. We know of citizens and others who are fully authorized to be in the US who are not coming into work, not going to school, not going to medical appointments, and not going to church, simply because they don’t want to be caught up in these sweeps.

This approach to immigration by the federal government is not even coming close to working on any issues that the raids are purported to address. Instead, it is negatively affecting our economy, and it is terrorizing a population of people who are vital members of our community and workforce. 

Chrysalis calls on its employer partners and the both the Los Angeles and Southern California business community to: 

• Reaffirm their support for immigrant workers; 
• Educate staff about their rights and responsibilities in the event of an ICE raid;
• Advocate for fair and humane immigration policies that protect our city’s most vulnerable residents. 

For resources on how employers can protect their employees and ensure compliance with legal standards, visit our newsroom at https://www.changelives.org/newsroom/what

The post Chrysalis CEO Mark Loranger Joins Mayor Karen Bass to Stand in Solidarity with the Los Angeles Community Amid ICE Raids first appeared on Chrysalis.

Here’s what every employer should know and do: 

Know Your Rights and Responsibilities as an Employer

• ICE cannot enter non-public areas of a workplace without a judicial warrant signed by a judge. Administrative ICE warrants (Form I-200 or I-205) are not valid for entry without consent. 
• Employers are not legally obligated to allow ICE agents to access employee records or private spaces without proper legal documentation. 
• You have the right to ask to see and verify a warrant, and to consult with legal counsel before responding. 

Create a Workplace Plan

• Develop a clear protocol for managers and staff on what to do if ICE agents arrive. 
• Designate a point person or legal contact to handle interactions with ICE. Inform your staff, especially those who would be the first point of contact, about who the designated point person or legal contact and how to contact them. 
• Train staff not to interfere, but also not to consent to searches or provide information without a valid warrant or subpoena. 

Protect and Empower Your Employees

• Inform workers of their rights: 
• They have the right to remain silent. 
• They are not required to answer questions about immigration status. 
• They can ask to speak to a lawyer before signing any documents. 
• Consider providing a know your rights training or resources for your employees, ideally in multiple languages. 

Maintain Best Practices in Employment Documentation

• Ensure that all employee records (including I-9s) are in order and that hiring practices comply with federal law. 
• Do not discriminate against workers based on actual or perceived immigration status, national origin, or race. 

Seek Legal Guidance

• Consult with an immigration or employment attorney to ensure your business is following all applicable laws and to help prepare your workplace response plan. 

Standing with Workers, Standing for Dignity 

At Chrysalis, we are committed to ensuring that everyone—no matter their place of origin or status – has the chance to work, thrive, and be treated fairly. We urge our employer partners and community allies to uphold workers’ rights and contribute to a more just, equitable workplace for all. 

The post What Employers Should Know if ICE Conducts a Raid at Their Workplace first appeared on Chrysalis.

A lifelong resident of the Van Nuys/Sherman Oaks area, Tony’s story is deeply rooted in the community. After earning a degree in mechanical engineering and building a decades-long career in public affairs, he chose to give back in a meaningful way-supporting individuals on their pathway to stability, security, and fulfillment through employment.

Since joining Chrysalis in late 2023, Tony has become a thoughtful and consistent presence at our Pacoima site. Whether guiding clients through job-readiness classes, reviewing resumes, or leading mock interviews, he creates a welcoming environment where clients feel heard, supported, and empowered to take their next steps.

“I like to create a safe environment where clients feel comfortable and confident,” Tony shares. “When they walk into a real interview, they’ll be ready.”

Tony’s belief in the potential of every client is unwavering. “The first thing I tell clients is, ‘You matter.’ Walking through our doors is already a win-they’ve taken the first step. He recalls a powerful moment when a client, after ringing the Success Bell to celebrate a new job, paused to express her gratitude:

“When I walked through the door, I felt very depressed. Now I feel positive and I got the job.” For Tony, moments like this reflect the impact of showing up with empathy and intention.

Outside of Chrysalis, Tony is a committed family member and an avid hiker who enjoys exploring the outdoors each week. His approach to volunteering is simple and powerful: “If you show up excited, your energy will transfer to the client. And that’s how we help people change their lives.”

We’re grateful for Tony’s dedication to our community. His presence reminds us that when we meet people where they are, lead with compassion, and focus on their strengths, we create pathways to lasting change.

Thank you to Tony and our many volunteers across Southern California helping Chrysalis clients find, prepare for, and retain jobs!

Become a Volunteer

The post Volunteer Spotlight: Tony first appeared on Chrysalis.

Disneyland Resort has been a close Chrysalis partner for years—not only as a supporter through gifts like this but also as an incredible hiring partner. Their commitment to creating job opportunities for our clients is a huge part of what makes our work possible. With their support, we’re able to provide essentials like one-on-one individualized employment services, interview attire, and paid work experience. All of these resources are so important in helping our clients build confidence and achieve their goals.

Mark Loranger, our CEO, shared his excitement for this ongoing partnership: “Corporate partners like Disneyland Resort make a powerful impact by investing in our clients’ futures and creating opportunities for everyone to thrive. We’re so grateful for their commitment to our mission and the lives we’re able to change together. Their support allows us to keep growing our programs for Anaheim and Orange County residents who are ready for a fresh start in the workforce.”

This support from Disneyland Resort couldn’t have come at a better time. As the demand for job-readiness programs grows across southern California, their contribution means we can help even more people overcome barriers to employment. Together, we’re building a more inclusive workforce that reflects the strength and diversity of our community.

Thank you, Disneyland Resort, for being a steadfast partner and believing in our clients. With your support, we’re creating real opportunities for people, helping them move forward, support their families, and make a lasting impact in their communities.

Hiring? Partner with Chrysalis to access motivated, talented, and job-ready candidates who are eager to contribute to your business’s success. Whether you need temporary, temp-to-hire, or direct hire employees, we provide personalized support to match you with the right candidates. Join us in creating opportunities for individuals navigating barriers to employment.

Become a Hiring Partner

The post Disneyland Resort Grant to Support Workforce Development in Anaheim and Surrounding Areas first appeared on Chrysalis.

This critical recovery process will require thousands of workers to assist with debris removal, cleaning, and waste disposal. Those workers will need the necessary training and certification, including OSHA’s Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response certification. Chrysalis is providing access to trainings needed to keep workers safe.

We have launched our C-CREW training program. C-CREW (Chrysalis Clients Ready for Environmental Work) will meet two critical needs for our community: training and certification for individual Chrysalis clients as well as trained crews that can be contracted and deployed in cleanup operations.

Photo: Chrysalis C-CREW Training Program’s first cohort of clients attend the first day of OSHA10 certification course in our Downtown Los Angeles center. 

Take Action with Chrysalis 

Community coming together makes us stronger. Today, we are restoring hope and purpose. 

Support by donating to the C-CREW Fund

Restore Hope & Restore Purpose.

Your gift today will allow us to:

The post Chrysalis announces a new training program to support workers being hired for fire recovery  first appeared on Chrysalis.

Help us keep the celebration going!

Are you thinking about a great way to make an impact in your community in 2024? Learn more about volunteering in-person at the Orange County center. 

Volunteer

The post Orange County’s 5th Anniversary first appeared on Chrysalis.