The Chrysalis Project

  The Chrysalis project is a partnership between Commonweal and St Mungo's. The project began in April 2009 and provides a resettlement programme for women wanting to exit prostitution. Commonweal provides housing for the final residential phase of a 3-phase resettlement programme initially created by St. Mungo's. The new, third phase gives clients the opportunity of living independently in one-bedroom flats to aid their transition to self- sufficient living. 

 Chysalis Case Study * (names have been changed)

Linda * is a mother of 6 . When She came to the Chrysalis Project she was homeless and had mininal contacct with her children . She had a severe history of domestic violence and crack use over fifteen years. She entered the service in 2007. She then attended a community programme over a 3 month period, residential detox, 6 months rehab and is now a tenant of Commonweal flat. She is engaging well and is reunited with her immediate family and is taking an active responsible role as a mother to her six children. She is actively looking into college work.

She wishes to remain abstinent from crack use, although has lapsed twice within the last year yet maintained her tenancy through positive support with her own individualised recovery plan.

She is looking into regaining custody of her youngest children and seeking alternative housing for her move on fron the project.

Project Evaluation

The project is currently being evaluated with the final evaluation report being released in summer 2012. The 2 year evaluation is being carried by Professor Roger Matthews formally of the Crime Reduction and Community Safety Research Group at London South Bank University and currently Professor of Criminology at The University of Kent.