Chrysalis Center Inc

CHRYSALIS CENTER'S MISSION IS TO PROVIDE SUPPORTIVE SERVICES TO ASSIST PEOPLE IN NEED TO TRANSFORM THEIR LIVES. CHRYSALIS CENTER IS A PRIVATE, NON-PROFIT, SOCIALLY INNOVATIVE, MULTISERVICE ORGANIZATION THAT SERVES INDIVIDUALS AND THEIR FAMILIES LIVING IN THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT. CHRYSALIS CENTER HELPS THOSE LIVING IN POVERTY, VETERANS, MEN, WOMEN, CHILDREN, AND YOUNG ADULTS WHO ARE STRUGGLING WITH MENTAL HEALTH, ADDICTION, HIV/AIDS, THOSE RETURNING FROM INCARCERATION AND HOMELESSNESS.AS ONE OF THE STATE'S LEADING ORGANIZATIONS SERVING CONNECTICUT'S PEOPLE LIVING WITH MENTAL ILLNESS AND RETURNING FROM HOMELESS POPULATIONS, CHRYSALIS CENTER UNDERSTANDS THAT BY DEVELOPING AND OFFERING EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING SERVICES IT CAN PROVIDE INDIVIDUALS THE OPPORTUNITY TO BECOME EMPLOYED, SELF-SUFFICIENT AND INDEPENDENT. ALL OF CHRYSALIS CENTER'S CLIENTS LIVE AT OR BELOW THE POVERTY LINE AND THE ORGANIZATION IS WORKING HARD TO HELP SOLVE THE PROBLEM OF POVERTY THROUGH EMPLOYMENT TRAINING.

COMMUNITY SUPPORTIVE HOUSING: CHRYSALIS' SUPPORTIVE HOUSING PROGRAMS HAVE FORGED INNOVATIVE PATHS TO END HOMELESSNESS FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS. CHRYSALIS CONTINUES TO BE DEDICATED TO PROVIDING HOMES TO INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES STRUGGLING WITH HOMELESSNESS, MENTAL ILLNESS, SUBSTANCE USE, AND HIV/AIDS. ADDITIONALLY, CHRYSALIS HELPS DIRECT VETERANS, FAMILIES INVOLVED WITH DCF, AND THOSE RETURNING FROM INCARCERATION TO SAFE AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING. CHRYSALIS OFFERS SUPPORTIVE SERVICES TO ADDRESS THE ISSUES THAT CAUSED PARTICIPANTS TO BECOME HOMELESS.

FOOD HUB: CORE SERVICES INCLUDE FRESHPLACE, HOMESTEAD FARMERS' MARKET, FOOD FOREST AT COSGROVE COMMONS, RAILWAY GARDENS, URBAN ROOTS HYDROPONIC GROW CENTER, LA COCINA CULINARY ARTS TRAINING PROGRAM & LA COCINA CATERING, AND THE TCC (TRAINING & CONFERENCE CENTER). THESE PROGRAMS ADDRESS FOOD INSECURITY AND EMPLOYMENT.URBAN ROOTS HAD AN EXPANSION PROJECT THAT RESULTED IN THE ADDITION OF A 180-BUCKET GROW SYSTEM ADDITION. THIS IS NOW UP AND RUNNING, AND IN FULL OPERATION. THE FOOD FOREST AT COSGROVE COMMONS RECEIVED A USDA GRANT AND IS IN THE PROCESS OF REPLANTING, CREATING ADDITIONAL RAISED BED GARDENS, ADDING FRUIT TREES AND NUT BUSHES, AND PREPARING TO ADD A HIGH TUNNEL TO HELP WITH GROWING.THE HOMESTEAD FARMERS' MARKET HAD A SUCCESSFUL SUMMER SEASON, OFFERING FRUITS, VEGETABLES, AND HERBS GROWN IN URBAN ROOTS, AS WELL AS AT THE FOOD FOREST AT COSGROVE COMMONS AND RAILWAY GARDENS.LA COCINA CULINARY ARTS TRAINING PROGRAM GRADUATED SEVERAL CLASSES, RESULTING IN 24 ATTENDEES EARNING THEIR SERVSAFE LICENSE AND LA COCINA CATERING HAD FIVE FOOD CONTRACTS, DELIVERING MEALS ON A DAILY OR WEEKLY BASIS, AND CATERED OVER 155 EVENTS. THE TCC SAW AN INCREASE IN BOOKINGS COMING OUT OF THE PANDEMIC WITH 44 EVENTS.

COMMUNITY CASE MANAGEMENT - COMMUNITY SUPPORT SERVICES AND CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES ARE REPLICATED AFTER NATIONAL BEST PRACTICES AND ARE DESIGNED TO ASSIST INDIVIDUALS TO MEET CRITICAL HEALTH, RECOVERY, REHABILITATIVE AND OTHER INDIVIDUAL IDENTIFIED LIFE GOALS INCLUDING: OBTAINING/MAINTAINING SAFE AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING, MANAGING LIFE TASKS ESSENTIAL TO LIVING IN THE COMMUNITY, MANAGING HEALTHCARE NEEDS, OBTAINING EMPLOYMENT AND OTHER VOCATIONAL GOALS, LIVING IN AN INTEGRATED MANNER IN THE COMMUNITY OF CHOICE IN THE LEAST RESTRICTIVE SETTING AND CREATING AND SUSTAINING NATURAL SUPPORTS IN THE COMMUNITY.

RECOVERY AND EMPOWERMENT - RECOVERY SERVICES ASSIST EACH INDIVIDUAL IN THEIR RECOVERY PROCESS. AIMED AT INCREASING INDEPENDENCE AND BUILDING CRITICAL COMMUNITY SUPPORT NETWORKS, THESE SERVICES PROVIDE SKILL BASED, ADVOCACY, RECOVERY, SOCIAL, RECREATIONAL AND EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN A GROUP OR ONE ON ONE SETTING.