Macerich, Chrysalis strike deal to provide jobs to city’s homeless
SM PLACE — One of the country’s largest retail mall owners is putting the homeless to work in Santa Monica.
A partnership between Macer-ich Co., which owns Santa Monica Place, and Chrysalis, a local nonprofit organization that employs homeless individuals, was announced on Thursday amidst a small group of supporters, including Los Angeles Councilman Bill Rosendahl.
Santa Monica Place is Macerich’s first shopping center to “test” the Chrysalis-sponsored “StreetWorks” program with a contract to provide cleaning services throughout the mall property. The professional work program, which includes the sweeping and pressure-washing of garages and parking structures, will enable the workers to secure marketable experience and job skills.
That’s been the case for Heidi Olinger, who has been working at Chrysalis for about a year. She signed on to the StreetWorks program in June. On Thursday, Olinger told the crowd gathered in front of the mall entrance on Fourth Street that having a job has allowed to her to move forward in other areas of her life — including getting married last week.
When she came to Santa Monica, Olinger was broke and living in a shelter. Because she harbored deep psychological scars from her past, she was unable to get a handle on her life. But having a job changed all of that, she said.
“I already have an improved sense of self and my self-esteem,” Olinger said, adding that knowing she has a good job helps her realize that homelessness is not a condition, but a temporary situation. It’s also improved her outlook on life.
“I love my job,” she said. “I clean the toilets and take out the trash.”
Adlai Wertman, president and CEO of Chrysalis, said he hopes more local companies will follow Macerich’s lead and employ people who need a helping hand.
Chrysalis employs 2,500 homeless or economically disadvantaged people each year, focusing on those individuals who are ready to move on from their addictions, sleeping outside and taking hand-outs.
“We are the only organization in Los Angeles to focus on people at that moment in time,” Wertman said. “It can’t be done by a nonprofit alone or by government alone, that’s why we create partnerships. And this partnership with Macerich is an absolute perfect example.”
Without the proper references and the right kind of assistance, it’s difficult for homeless individuals to get jobs. Many of those who are down-and-out have been unemployed for decades, have criminal records and no references.
But that wasn’t an issue at Macerich when its corporate executives decided almost immediately to sign onto the program when Chrysalis approached them.
Chris Facas, vice president of property management at Macerich, said from a business standpoint, he was initially nervous about the employees’ references, but the decision to say “yes” to the partnership ultimately was natural. Facas also reported that those now working at Santa Monica Place had excellent references.
Chrysalis provides employment through its centers based in downtown Los Angeles, Santa Monica and the San Fernando Valley. Service jobs also include preparation classes — which covers finding job leads — interviewing for jobs, completing applications and preparing a resume.
“Our organization’s philosophy is that a steady job is the single most important step in a person’s transition to long-term self-sufficiency and we simply could not accomplish this task without companies like Macerich that are willing to work hand-in-hand with us to make it a reality,” Wertman said.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on September 23, 2005. Read the original PDF.