James’s journey is a powerful testament to how a person’s life can be completely transformed when they have the support they need – rising from the depths of homelessness and addiction to build a new life marked by sobriety, stability, and full-time employment.  “I was in a very horrible place in my life,” says James, of his situation prior to connecting with Chrysalis Center.  James was living in a cycle of homelessness, addiction, gang involvement, and incarceration, until he made the decision to change his path.  One day on Arch Street in New Britain, James encountered a group of compassionate women doing homelessness outreach. They introduced him to Chrysalis and helped him navigate the application for services process, ultimately connecting him with the Chrysalis Center’s supportive housing program – a turning point that would change his life.

James has been a client of Chrysalis Center for 4 years and has turned his life completely around.  “The last 4 years with Chrysalis have been the best years of my life.”  He has stable housing and a secure full-time job with Ulbrich Stainless Steels & Special Metals, Inc. in North Haven.  It was challenging for James to secure employment due to his prison record until he connected with Ulbrich.  Of Ulbrich, James says, “They value me, and I value them.  I am very happy and grateful to them for my job.” 

With stable housing, full-time employment, and the unwavering support of an incredible case manager, James finally had the space to reflect on the root causes of his past decisions. This newfound stability empowered him to shift his mindset, break free from destructive patterns, and embrace a healthier, more hopeful future.  For 3 years, James has consistently participated in therapy which has been life-changing for him: “Ever since I got hooked up with Chrysalis great things have happened.  I was never able to take time for myself before and work on myself.”

James’s case manager, Jewel, beams with pride when speaking of his transformation.  “James is a really special person.  In the face of adversity, he never gave up.  We worked together as a team and made his goals and dreams a reality.”

As most roads to recovery are, James’s was uphill.  There were many moments when the roadblocks seemed impassable and turning around looked easier than forging ahead.  “A lot of times I felt like giving up.  I never had anyone in my corner or rooting for me in my life.  Jewel gave me the fire to keep going.  She would reach out to check in on me.  She kept me strong.” 

James and Jewel exemplify the client-case manager relationship which is built on trust, collaboration, goal setting, and empowerment.  With Jewel’s support, James gained the clarity to set meaningful goals, mapped out the steps to achieve them, and took confident action toward building the life he envisioned.

Of working with James, Jewel says, “This journey with him has been amazing.  He continues to grow each and every day and I am so proud of him.  I cannot wait to see all his other accomplishments.”

Your gift to Chrysalis Center is a catalyst for transformation.  With your support, dedicated professionals like Jewel can work alongside clients, guiding them on a journey toward lasting stability and success. We invite you to connect with us on social media and explore our website to discover more stories of how Chrysalis Center has been changing lives for the past 50 years.