District Outreach

Supporting Those in Need in Our Community

We have a long history of helping less fortunate members of our community to lead better, healthier lives. By establishing contract relationships with two trusted non-profits – PATH and Chrysalis – we are providing services for individuals experiencing homelessness and creating employment opportunities within the District.

Chrysalis

Chrysalis is a non-profit organization dedicated to creating a pathway to self-sufficiency for individuals experiencing homelessness and low-income individuals by providing the resources and support needed to find and retain employment.

For over 20 years, the DCBID has contracted with Chrysalis Enterprises to staff the BID’s clean team. The contract relationship between the DCBID and Chrysalis provides approximately 30 ongoing transitional employment positions. These positions provide valuable work experience which helps to remove barriers to permanent employment for individuals who have recently overcome life challenges like incarceration, homelessness, or drug addiction.

Since the DCBID’s formation in 1998, the BID has invested approximately $16 million with Chrysalis Enterprises, and approximately 2,100 Chrysalis clients have participated in transitional employment with the DCBID. Those clients have worked more than one million hours, and 70% of those who transition to permanent employment remain employed after six months. Please read about two powerful success stories of individuals who prospered after their experiences with Chrysalis and the DCBID.

To learn more about Chrysalis, visit changelives.org

BID A.C.T.I.O.N & PATH

The DCBID has dedicated more than $2.6 million on homeless outreach since 2000 and nearly $250,000 a year is currently budgeted for these services.

The BID A.C.T.I.O.N (Ambassador Community Training for Intervention, Wellness, Outreach & Networking) program was developed in conjunction with the California Hospital in 2000 to provide skills and tools to assist the DCBID personnel in engaging and providing services to those experiencing homelessness.

In 2015, the program was expanded through a contract with PATH (People Assisting the Homeless).For over 30 years, PATH has been helping individuals experiencing homelessness throughout California “find a path home” by providing permanent supportive housing, case management, medical and mental healthcare, employment training, and other services to help individuals maintain their homes. Since 2013, PATH has connected more than 7,500 people to permanent housing.

The DCBID contracts with PATH to provide two full-time mobile outreach teams consisting of four full-time individuals to connect those experiencing homelessness within the District to a variety of services, ranging from giving clothing, blankets, and transportation, to accessing medical services, rehabilitation programs, and temporary and permanent shelter. High quality services are critical to ensuring that individuals and families experiencing homelessness can transition from living on the streets to thriving in their own homes.

To learn more about PATH, visit epath.org