Would Works

“I Would Work if I Could”

Would Works is an LA based social enterprise that trains and employs people experiencing homelessness in the craft of woodworking.

Would Works Artisans learn how to sand, finish, brand, and package our line of wood homewares for sale at our website, through partner vendors such as Gifts for Good, and Barrio LA, and at pop up events.

Would Works currently employs 36 individuals annually--providing over 2000 hours of paid employment, community engagement and woodworking training for people who are experiencing homelessness or extreme poverty in Los Angeles.

Our Story

While working at a homeless shelter in Skid Row in 2012, Would Works founder Connor Johnson began running weekend wood-finishing workshops in church basements and housing site rec rooms throughout Skid Row.  In 2016 he partnered with actor Nick Offerman and his collective shop, Offerman Woodshop, to scale up this program and product line into the thriving social enterprise it is today. Offerman now sits on the Board of Directors and his shop continues to support Would Works by providing product machining ongoing job opportunities to our Artisans. 

The Artisans
Artisans are referred to our program by employment counselors and housing case managers from various Los Angeles organizations that serve the unhoused population, such as; Chrysalis Employment Services, Skid Row Housing Trust, Downtown Women’s Center, and The People Concern.

Would Works Artisans gain practical job skills and a current employment reference in a supportive, community-oriented environment.

“Would Works was so much more than I expected it to be. I felt like I was part of a family. I learned so much more than wood work-- I learned work ethics, responsibility, accountability, and preparation for re-entry into the workforce. Participating in the Would Works program was the very reason I was able to obtain employment and stay employed.”

--Glasha, 2018 Would Works Artisan
 Presently Community Health Worker at UC Irvine

Our Artisans gain the satisfaction of doing hands-on work with tangible outcomes--building confidence and forging a path toward self-sufficiency.

Equity Work

We believe in a compassionate, equity driven, and trauma informed approach to leadership and program design.  BIPOC communities are disproportionately represented among people experiencing homelessness in LA. At Would Works we strive to address racism and sexism by offering workforce development and financial support to this community.  

Would Works thanks the following funders for their support: