Downtown Women's Center

Founded in 1978, the Downtown Women’s Center (DWC) works to end homelessness by providing safe housing and supportive services centered on wellness, employment, and advocacy.

Our services include access to basic needs and resources through our Day Center, where participants can receive three daily meals and access to showers, restrooms, mail, and telephones. On-site housing and supportive services, with our 119 units of permanent housing across two residences making us one of the largest housing providers for women in the country. Community-based housing services, provided in partnership with the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services, the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA), the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, and various private foundations and corporations. Health and wellness services, including individual and group counseling, medical care, mental health services, preventive screenings, and enrichment activities.

We welcome volunteers who share a commitment to DWC’s core values of safety, respect, social justice, and community, and invite you to join us in our mission to end homelessness for women in Los Angeles. Volunteers are integral to this work!

Support from volunteers is invaluable as we work towards our mission of ending homelessness in greater Los Angeles through housing, wellness, employment, and advocacy. Our current list of volunteer opportunities include:

• Kitchen: make and serve meals for 150-200 women per shift
• Day Center: welcome participants and guests, answer phones, distribute toiletry kits, etc.
• Learning Center: offer one-on-one computer support to participants
• Residence Host: welcome and check in with our permanent supportive housing residents
• Maintenance Assistant: help our facilities keep DWC clean and safe for participants, staff, and other volunteers
• Donations Sorting: receive, sort, and organize clothing and other donations that come into the center

Visit downtownwomenscenter.org for more info or fill out a volunteer application to get started!