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Project Roomkey Providing Jobs, Housing And Hope To L.A.’s Unhoused
Homeless encampments on Skid Row, photographed on June 30, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (James Bernal for KPCC)
Project Roomkey is providing shelter for the most medically vulnerable of California’s homeless population, and some sites are also providing jobs for unhoused state residents.
One such employee is Mureithi Davis, who works full-time as a guest service attendant at a Project Roomkey site. He runs errands for people staying at the facility, and even helps out when he’s off the clock.
“I can definitely have all kinds of empathy because I’ve experienced the housing issue,” said Davis. “I know the uncertainty, and even the stress.”
Davis got the job through Chrysalis, a nonprofit organization that helps homeless people find work. Mark Loranger, the president of Chrysalis, says the company has employed more than 120 homeless clients at Project Roomkey sites through a contract with the city of L.A.
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“Not only do programs like ours help folks get out of bad situations, but [they] also prevent folks from becoming homeless in the first place,” Loranger said.
For Davis, the job is offering not just income, but economic empowerment.
“Excuse me for getting a little choked up,” he said. “But it's really been a life-changing experience, to get things back on track.”
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But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
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