What Chrysalis Center does

Chrysalis Center is a private, non-profit 501(c)(3) multi-service organization founded in 1975 and headquartered at 255 Homestead Avenue in Hartford, Connecticut. The organization delivers wrap-around supportive services to individuals and families facing poverty, homelessness, mental illness, substance use disorders, food insecurity, and reentry challenges after incarceration. Core service verticals include affordable housing (a portfolio of 21+ properties and over 900 units across Connecticut), behavioral health and recovery (the 12-bed, 90-day Wingate Recovery Home and the Recovery and Empowerment Center), food security (the Freshplace client-choice pantry serving up to 100 families monthly, the Urban Roots Hydroponics Grow Center, a 32-bed Railway Gardens plot, a two-acre Food Forest at Cosgrove Commons, and the seasonal Homestead Farmers' Market), and case management / community support services.

The organization's revenue model is a hybrid of charitable contributions, government and foundation grants, social enterprise earned revenue, and affordable housing rental income. Donation streams include individual giving, corporate matching gifts, honor/memorial gifts, planned giving (Legacy Society), and online donations; grants include federal funding (e.g., $642K for Phelps Mansion veterans housing) and Connecticut DMHAS funding for Wingate Recovery Home. Social enterprises — La Cocina Catering and the Training & Conference Center (TCC) — generate earned revenue through catering orders (minimum 15 persons) and event-space rentals (rooms priced $300-$650/day with non-profit discounts) while simultaneously providing hands-on culinary job training for clients. Housing revenue flows through the Chrysalis Center Real Estate Corporation (CCREC), while new affordable housing development is conducted through the 2020-established Chrysalis Center Housing Development Corporation (CCHDC).

The go-to-market approach is direct-to-consumer service delivery at the Hartford campus and a Waterbury satellite office, supplemented by 24/7 referrals from United Way's 211 Infoline, earned media in regional outlets, signature fundraising events (Butterfly Bash, Empty Bowls, Turkey Distribution), and a multi-channel digital presence (website, Constant Contact email, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube). For the catering/TCC businesses, customer acquisition relies on direct outreach and repeat enterprise clients such as The Hartford Insurance, Trinity College, UConn, and Connecticut Children's. The organization holds CARF International accreditation, a Charity Navigator 4-star rating, and the Candid Transparency Seal as trust signals for funders and contract partners.

Name

Chrysalis Center

Legal name

Chrysalis Center, Inc

Website

https://chrysaliscenterct.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1975

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Chrysalis Center is a Hartford, Connecticut-based nonprofit founded in 1975 that provides affordable housing, food security, recovery, and job training services to individuals and families experiencing poverty, homelessness, and behavioral health challenges across Connecticut.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Social Services — nonprofit human services organization

NAICS

Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse Facilities (6232)

SIC

Services-To Dwellings & Other Buildings (7340)

akta.pro primary industry

Affordable Housing & Community Development (Housing, Community Land Trusts) (BPAGALAC)

Keywords

• Social services
• Affordable housing
• Workforce development
• Food assistance programs
• Recovery services

Headquarters

HQ city

Hartford

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices13 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Individual and Corporate Donations: Tax-deductible charitable contributions from individuals, corporations, and foundations. Includes online giving, matching gifts programs, honor and memorial gifts, and legacy society planned giving.
2. La Cocina Catering: Social enterprise catering operation providing job training while generating revenue. Offers breakfast, lunch, hors d'oeuvres, dinner, and dessert catering for events. Minimum 15 person orders with pickup and delivery options.
3. Training & Conference Center (TCC) Rental: Event space rental revenue from room bookings and IT packages. All revenues support Chrysalis Center mission. Non-profit rate discounts available. La Cocina is exclusive caterer.
4. Grants and Government Funding: DMHAS-funded programs including Wingate Recovery Home. Federal grants for housing improvements (e.g., $642K federal grant for Phelps Mansion veterans housing).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Chrysalis Center is a private nonprofit multi-service organization providing free supportive housing, food assistance, recovery, and case management services to individuals and families facing poverty, homelessness, mental illness, substance use, HIV/AIDS, and reentry after incarceration in Connecticut. The organization operates two social enterprises — La Cocina Catering and the Training & Conference Center (TCC) — that generate earned revenue while delivering hands-on culinary and hospitality job training, and manages over 900 affordable housing units across 21+ Connecticut properties through its CCHDC and CCREC subsidiaries.

Product overview

Chrysalis Center is a private, nonprofit multi-service organization offering a portfolio of social service programs and social enterprises. The core programs include Freshplace (food pantry), Recovery and Empowerment Center, Wingate Recovery Home, Community Support Services, and Supportive Housing Services. The organization operates several social enterprises including La Cocina Culinary Arts Training Program, La Cocina Catering, and the Training & Conference Center (TCC), which generate revenue while providing job training. Additionally, the organization runs food production programs including Urban Roots Hydroponics Grow Center, Homestead Farmers' Market, Railway Gardens, and the Food Forest at Cosgrove Commons. The real estate subsidiaries CCHDC and CCREC manage the organization's housing development and property assets.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• La Cocina: Social enterprise catering company and culinary arts training program that provides hands-on job training for individuals pursuing careers in the culinary and hospitality fields while generating funds for the organization.
• TCC (Training & Conference Center)

Products and services

• Freshplace Food Pantry

Quantifiable outcome

• 100 families served monthly at Freshplace
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• 211 InfolinecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with United Way's 211 Infoline for housing and shelter referrals. Available 24/7 to connect individuals experiencing homelessness or housing crisis with Chrysalis Center services.
• Farmers Market (Connecticut Grown)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHomestead Farmers Market operates June through October featuring Connecticut-grown produce, Urban Roots vegetables, and La Cocina baked goods. Partnership supports local agriculture and community food access.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Mercy Housing: National nonprofit affordable-housing developer and operator with a much larger portfolio across multiple states. Comparable affordable-housing mission and supportive-services model, but at significantly greater scale and geographic breadth.
• National Church Residences: National nonprofit affordable-housing provider with supportive services for seniors, veterans, and individuals with special needs. Comparable supportive-housing portfolio model, with national scale.
• Volunteers of America: National multi-service nonprofit operating housing, recovery, behavioral-health, and workforce programs. Similar integrated wrap-around service philosophy and reliance on government contracts.

Regional players

• Catholic Charities of Hartford: Regional multi-service Catholic Charities affiliate serving Hartford and central CT with housing, food, and behavioral-health programs. Overlaps on CT service geography and multi-program nonprofit model.
• Journey Home: Hartford-area collaborative supporting individuals transitioning from homelessness to stable housing. Comparable Hartford-area homelessness response and supportive-services referral ecosystem.
• Beth El Center: CT-based nonprofit providing emergency shelter, transitional housing, and supportive services in southern CT. Comparable CT operating geography and supportive-housing model, though smaller portfolio.

Direct peers

• Liberty Community Services: CT nonprofit providing supportive housing and case management for individuals facing homelessness, mental-health challenges, and reentry. Direct overlap on CT supportive-housing service delivery.
• Columbus House: Greater Hartford-area nonprofit focused on homelessness prevention and supportive housing with case management. Overlaps with Chrysalis on housing placement, supportive services, and Hartford-area referral networks.
• The Connection, Inc. Connecticut-based nonprofit delivering supportive housing, behavioral-health, recovery, and community-integration services. Highly comparable service mix and CT geographic focus, making it the closest functional peer.
• New Horizons, Inc. Connecticut-based nonprofit providing supportive housing, behavioral-health, and recovery services across multiple CT locations. Comparable program portfolio and CT-specific operating model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCKP2bcfCE0G9tOEx8eMv2aQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/ChrysalisHtfd
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/chrysalis-center-inc-
• Instagraminstagram.com/chrysaliscenterhtfd
• Xx.com/ChrysalisHtfd

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Chrysalis Center