This is the story of our journey to build a sustainable social benefit organization to help unhoused and housing at-risk individuals earn a side income by selling hand-made artwork, while increasing confidence and self worth. After 18 months we have learned many lessons, helped a handful of artists and learned more about our community. Unfortunately, we are no longer able to sustain the operation.
A Bridge Between Creators and Shoppers
Is it possible to create a sustainable social benefit organization that can help unhoused and housing at-risk individuals use their creative skills to earn money? We have all seen individuals selling their artwork on busy street corners. Talented artists and creators have the ability to make art, but often lack the means to take their products to market. Storing the products, packing and shipping them as well as setting up online shops, are challenging to anyone, but can be especially difficult for people experiencing unstable housing and unreliable transportation.
What if a social enterprise organization could help fill this gap by providing a place to store products, providing shipping services and by providing an online platform where socially conscious shoppers could connect with and support makers? This was our goal and we called it Life Works Project.
From the outset, Life Works Project aimed to create a bridge between creators and shoppers, creating an ecosystem where purchasing choices contributed to personal empowerment. We were continually inspired by the dedication of the makers we worked with, who brought passion and authenticity to their craft. We also were given insight to the challenges of unhoused people. It has been a privilege to facilitate these connections and to see firsthand how access to the right platform can help transform lives.
Life Works Project had a mission of finding opportunities for the unhoused or housing-at-risk to learn new life and work skills and use those skills to improve their self-confidence and their life situation.
Our Approach
We followed a fairly structured approach. We started by researching similar organizations and studied their operations and business structure. With this, we developed a business plan that captured our mission, vision, values and laid out a roadmap that we hoped would lead us down the right path. We knew at the onset that it was a risk — an experiment that would hopefully succeed, but could also fail.
We formed partnerships with several local organizations that already help unhoused people. Homeward Alliance, an organization that operates a continuum of care programs for families, adults, and seniors, such as basic needs, housing-focused case management, and employment services. Through this partnership we identified a potential opportunity to help local artists and makers sell their hand-made products in an online marketplace.
We worked alongside case workers who personally knew artists, makers and creators and we connected with those who were a good fit. In addition to Homeward Alliance, we met with several other local organizations including: The Mason Place, FoCo Cafe, Mennonite Church, and Saint Valentine Apartments. Not every potential client was able or willing to participate. Nor were we able to reach every person who may have been a client.
Early on, we created a website with a marketplace listing that gave a brief description of each maker and highlighted their products. Our website linked shoppers to our Life Works Etsy shop where shoppers could easily browse and purchase products.
We worked alongside our clients to figure out which products could be sold and we researched similar products to arrive at a reasonable price tag. We took professional-quality photos and inventoried all of the items as they were posted online on our site and on Etsy. Items were also advertised on other social media platforms. We needed to make sure we could fulfill online orders in a timely manner and with the quality and professionalism that is expected.
We also looked for partners. We reached out to a handful of stores, churches, organizations who were supportive of our mission and wanted to help. However, due to a variety of factors, several places could not partner with us. For example, many stores were willing to sell Life Works Project artists wares, but already had too much inventory. Some churches wanted to help store the artist’s supplies, but simply did not have space. Some churches were able to provide space, but it was not a good fit for the maker. It was clear that many people believed in the vision, but were unable to help.
We tried many different ideas to help sell the artwork and make it easier for our artists such as print on demand services, in-person art fairs and word of mouth advertising. Each option proved to be unsustainable.
All of the above steps were done at no cost to our artists, makers and creators. This process was labor intensive and time consuming and we were operating with a part-time staff. Although we knew that this approach would be challenging if we ever wanted scale-up, this seemed to be the only realistic option.
Obstacles
The Life Works Project journey has been a profound learning experience. Through it we gained a deeper understanding of the struggles faced by unhoused people and the complex realities of homelessness, which has been eye-opening. We have seen the incredible resilience and creativity of those seeking to better their circumstances, and it has been humbling to witness the impact of every sale that supported a maker’s path to financial stability and personal development. There were two main challenges.
The first obstacle was finding artists and makers who were interested and able to participate. Daily life gets in the way of making art. Finding a studio or workshop was important to our makers, but the availability and costs of space were unreachable. We reached out to some area churches but ultimately were unable to find space. We provided a small stipend for some of our artists to help pay for art materials and supplies. Some of our artists requested specific tools, so we paid for monthly memberships at a local maker shop. Our artists either didn’t have transportation to get to the maker shop or lacked the needed online skills to pass equipment safety tests. In addition, many of our artists had difficulty communicating without a phone or email, so making and keeping meetings got in the way of success. Hygiene was another factor — in order to sell items, they must be new, original and clean. For some of our artists who lived in their vehicles, this was a challenge.
And while many people loved the vision and idea of Life Works Project, selling our products was the second big challenge. We learned that the Etsy marketplace is very crowded and being successful required time and marketing skills that we did not really have. Although the Life Works website directed people to the Etsy store, promoting our own website with a relatively small number of makers was not worth that investment. In addition, buyers wanted to support our artists, but sometimes were not interested in the products that were offered. Also, we struggled finding a wide range of buyers. Most of the people who bought items were people that had a connection to someone involved in Life Works Project.
Outcomes
It was very exciting to meet with our artists and tell them not only about the money they had earned from sales, but to let them know that their creativity was truly valued by others. It was inspiring to hear their unique life journeys and to be a small part of helping them move forward.
Together, we learned how to navigate the intricacies of a social enterprise, balancing the compassion that drives our mission with the practicalities of sustaining a business. Collaborating with Emily, our high school intern, taught Tracey, our Executive Director the importance of mentorship and teamwork in bringing ideas to fruition. We also learned from the artists themselves — their resilience, passion, and ability to express their stories inspired us and broadened our perspective on what it means to empower oneself through creativity.
Personal Reflections
Executive Director, Tracey Winey
As the organization comes to a close, I look back on our achievements with pride but also a sense of the work that remains. The experiences I’ve gained here have deepened my understanding of the social enterprise landscape, sharpened my skills in connecting people with purpose, and fueled my commitment to initiatives that prioritize people over profit.
I am immensely grateful for the opportunity to be part of this mission-driven work. Working on this team has been an invaluable experience, shaping not only my professional growth but also my understanding of what it means to lead with empathy and purpose. I am leaving this experience inspired and motivated, carrying forward the lessons I’ve learned here and excited for future opportunities to make an impact. I look forward to applying these insights as I continue working in spaces that uplift and empower others, knowing that this experience has laid a strong foundation for meaningful work ahead.
Student Intern, Emily
Working at Life Works Project has given me a unique sense of purpose in my community, which I didn’t think was possible. I was given the opportunity to give back to individuals who I personally resonated with. I spent these last couple of years reflecting on my past experiences with homelessness. Life Works Project gave me a different perspective on the individuals who are unhoused. You truly can’t judge a human based on their current situation, external factors don’t define who you are. I really enjoyed seeing how people expressed themselves through their artwork. Despite the extreme circumstances these individuals faced they were able to create something beautiful that brought joy to others.
My team has been nothing but supportive and driven from start to finish, and they’ve shown me what it means to lead with empathy and compassion. I am inspired to continue working for the change I wish to see in my community, and in the world.
Homeward Alliance Re-Entry & EARN Program Manager, Claire Callaway
Last year, I began working with Homeward Alliance as an Employment & Resource Navigator, and one of the first shining faces I had the pleasure of meeting was Tracey Winey. She had reached out to Homeward Alliance in hopes of building connections with artists experiencing homelessness in the community. It was not long before I had a client who was a potential good fit for the LifeWorks Project, and Tracey came to my office to meet the two of us and coordinate the next steps. I could tell that she was excited about this new non-profit and that excitement was contagious.
Over the next several months, many of my clients revealed that they, too, were artists, and I was grateful to have a resource that could showcase their talent. Every time I reached out, Tracey would come to The Murphy Center as quickly as possible to meet new artists, explain the program, outline how they would be supported, and she then followed through with the logistics with genuine care. Shortly afterward, I met Ron and Emily, who shared the same passion and dedication, working tirelessly to support and uplift these artists.
Through their participation in the LifeWorks Project, my clients expressed feeling seen and heard, and they became optimistic about the prospects of selling their artwork. It wasn’t just about earning extra cash (which was significant); it was about being recognized and celebrated for who they are and how they express themselves.
I was deeply impressed by how committed Tracey, Ron, and Emily were to supporting these individuals and by the tangible ways they brought their vision to life. In what felt like no time, they established an Etsy page, created their own Life Works Project website, and formed partnerships with local coffee shops to display and sell the artists’ work. They even organized a market event at FOCO Café, where artists engaged directly with customers interested in their creations. This experience left a lasting impact, demonstrating how meaningful collaboration and hard work can support and celebrate some of the most vulnerable yet resilient people in our community.
Although Life Works is closing its doors, we must recognize the doors they have opened for others. I am hopeful that these artists will continue to sell their work with the experience they’ve gained and that, as a community, we can draw inspiration to support and uplift one another in similarly meaningful ways.
Thank You
A huge shout out and thank you to Homeward Alliance in Fort Collins, Colorado. Without their guidance and support we would not have ever started out. And a special thank you to Claire Callaway, Tom Austin, Chris Blocker and KC Crino for your compassion, deep experience, advice and support.
Also a tremendous thank you to FoCo Cafe. Thank you for supporting our artists, sharing your time and expertise with the Life Works Project community.
And most importantly, thank you to all of our makers, especially Jill, Rusty, Tlana, Musa, Nikki, and Henry. It has truly been an honor working with each of you!
Final Thoughts and Next Steps
Community matters. Valuing every voice matters. Trying something new matters. Reflection matters. Supporting each other matters. The process of writing this article was bittersweet. The vision of empowering local artists remains and a new opportunity to do this is presented. Just like several people contributed to the article, several voices must be heard and work together to dream, create and implement a new, innovative way to support the most vulnerable and most resilient artists of our community!
We hope sharing our experiences will somehow help others be inspired, learn from it and hopefully navigate around the obstacles to achieve the vision. Please reach out to Life Works Project if we can help the next organization fulfill its mission to empower more local artists to be more self-sufficient, confident and happy. We look forward to hearing from you and partnering with our communities!
Tracey Winey and Ron Brush
