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Presbyterian Night Shelter’s newest social enterprise, Woodworks by UpSpire, in Fort Worth is off to a strong start.
Established in 2016, UpSpire, the shelter’s social entrepreneurship group, has integrated janitorial services, landscaping, warehousing, staffing, and trash abatement into business lines that now account for over one-third of the shelter’s yearly operational revenue.
In October, UpSpire expanded their offerings to include woodworking, producing over 1,000 pieces of hardwood ash furniture for homeless individuals’ apartments. 75% of the workers at Woodworks, the first social enterprise to teach marketable skills, had either been homeless or faced a major obstacle to being self-sufficient, like incarceration.
Reporter Scott Nishimura spoke with Toby Owen, executive director of the shelter, and Jasper Clements, head carpenter and de facto designer, as Woodworks finishes its first furniture order and is ready to fulfill more from restaurants and NGOs.
Contact details
The woodworking of UpSpire
Fort Worth, Texas 76113, P.O. Box 132
UpSpire [email protected]
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For clarity and space, the interview has been modified.
Scott Nishimura: Describe Woodworks’ and UpSpire’s connection to the shelter.
Toby Owen: The three functions of the Presbyterian Night Shelter are employment, housing, and shelter. The Presbyterian Night Shelter’s employment division is called UpSpire. Our goal is to employ people. Secondly, it generates income for the company.
Nishimura: What prompted the creation of Woodworks?
Owen: A year ago, Woodworks was created. We already had to purchase furniture for the two rental apartments. Additionally, it will provide workers a skill that they can utilize in the future.
Jasper Clements: The business was furnished. We created a superior product. We also have men working for us. We contributed something new to UpSpire and saved money.
NishimuraHow many people work for Woodworks and UpSpire? Do they work full-time or part-time?
Owen: UpSpire has roughly 225 employees. All of the positions are full-time and offer perks. Furthermore, the program is not a transitory one. You can stay as long as you like after you have a job again.
Clements: There are thirty men in the Woodworks shop. We’re teaching them the skills, but I’m not sure if they can all be woodworkers. We’re prepared to do business. We can construct anything that someone can think of.
Nishimura: What types of furnishings did you order initially?
Clements: bed and headboard, nightstand, microwave, bookcase, love seat, entertainment center, dining room tables and chairs, and coffee table.
Nishimura: Who is the possible client?
Owen: We market to other NGOs that require office equipment as well as other nonprofits that deal with housing. One charitable organization has submitted a bid on our behalf. The furniture is excellent and well-made. It will last for a century. We have spoken with a few eateries.
Nishimura: What further components is the shop able to construct?
OwenFor the Gladney Center, we constructed a few tables. furniture for offices. tables for conferences. Adirondack chairs will be constructed for front porches. Last Christmas, we finished 300 cutting boards. I’m hoping that the boards from our two banks will be used as Christmas presents.
Clements: The range is quite wide. We now know how to keep costs down. The quantity of waste is really low.
Owen: A net profit margin is something we wish to incorporate. It’s how we can expand the company.
Nishimura: What is the yearly operational budget for the Presbyterian Night Shelter?
Owen: $22 million.
Nishimura: To what extent do the social enterprises contribute to that?
Owen: A third of our earnings. It involves grants, private donations, UpSpire, and a third, a third, a third. Having a varied revenue base is fantastic.
Scott Nishimura is a senior editor in the Fort Worth Report’s Documenters program. Reach him at [email protected].
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