With two days until Thanksgiving and just one week until Giving Tuesday, Dismas House invites you to Be the Bridge this giving season.

This year brought unexpected funding challenges, yet even in the face of these challenges, Dismas House remains resilient. Our mission stands strong, and our doors remain open 24/7 for men rebuilding their lives after incarceration.

As we enter this season of giving, your support matters more than ever.

Together, we can ensure every man who walks through our doors has access to the tools, care, and community he needs to succeed.

Will you join us in building bridges of hope, healing, and opportunity?

Residential Reentry Program

Dismas House is a Tennessee Department of Correction (TDOC) approved residential reentry program that serves men returning to the community from Tennessee prisons and county jails. Our campus includes 56 reentry beds in double-occupancy bedrooms. To complete the reentry program, residents must remain on campus for a minimum of 90 days. There is no maximum length of stay. Through a family-like environment and holistic services, we aim to support our residents as they navigate the challenging transition into society from incarceration.

Program Plan & Phases 

The minimum length of stay to complete the Dismas House Reentry Program is 90 days, and there is no maximum. Determining the length of stay at Dismas House is a decision made between the resident and his care team based on the resident’s individual goals, achievement of certain benchmarks, and adherence to a treatment plan.

Healing Phase I: Days 1-30

Building Phase II: Days 31-60

Growth Phase III: Days 61-90

Transitioning Phase IV: Days 91 until departure

Pillars of Programming

Under our four pillars of programming, residents receive a wide array of services that are offered by Dismas House staff or through collaborations with external service providers.

Basic Needs 

We provide housing at no cost for the first 30 days, as well as food, clothing, transportation, toiletries, a cell phone, and computer access.

Health & Well-Being

We provide prescription coverage for the first 30 days, wellness classes, individual and group therapy sessions, and relapse prevention plans.

Life Skills

We provide interpersonal skills development, emotional regulation training, technology training, healthcare benefit training, banking and budgeting training, cooking classes, and employment support. 

Legal Support

We provide expungements of records, reinstatement of driver’s license and other IDs, restoration of voting rights, and reduction of fines and fees.

 

December 2, 2025

Week 2 - Be the Bridge to Hope This Giving Tuesday
Your Hope Builds Bridges 

 

This Giving Tuesday, join a global movement of generosity and help us build bridges of hope and opportunity.

This year has been especially tough for nonprofits, even here at Dismas House, where recent funding losses have affected:

Food Provisions

Legal Aid Support

Housing Subsidies

     Case Management

Yet through every challenge, Dismas House stands firm, continuing to ensure men returning from incarceration still receive the tools and community they need to rebuild.

When resident Jayson Peters first came to Dismas House, he wasn’t sure what the future would hold. With the support of compassionate supporters like you, Jayson found more than stability. He found a bridge to transformation.

Through our holistic program, Jayson gained the tools, encouragement, and community he needed to rebuild his life. Today, he’s thriving, working full-time, reconnecting with family, and giving back to others, following in his footsteps.

Even in a year marked by financial uncertainty, thanks to your generosity, stories like Jayson’s are possible!

Remember, Dismas House provides the opportunity for redemption... what we're doing here truly works.

 

The Statistics  

55,000 Tennesseans are currently in jail or prison

95% will eventually return to our communities

Dismas House Recidivism Rate vs. National Average

Without the proper support, 50% of those released from prison in Tennessee will re-offend within three years, and roughly 30% will return to prison within three years. Dismas House’s residential reentry program, a comprehensive program that extends beyond housing and employment, has proven to help stop the revolving door of recidivism. By addressing barriers to successful reentry and offering evidence-based practices for the whole person, our program fosters lasting change from the inside out. Every individual deserves an opportunity to redefine their life and contribute meaningfully to their community.

Dismas House
2.5%

State of Tennessee
29.6%

United States
68%

December 9, 2025

When David White arrived at Dismas House, he faced barriers that felt impossible to overcome:

Lack of Affordable Housing

Lack of Fair-Chance Employment

Debt Reduction

Financial Stability

Dismas House provided David with what he truly needed—support. Today, David is rebuilding his life with purpose and hope.

"Just knowing you have people who support you and have your back is a big plus." -David White

With your help, David found his footing. Your support plays an instrumental role in impacting the lives of returning citizens.

Help transform another life and be the bridge for someone like David today.

December 16, 2025

This holiday season, we’re reminded that lasting change doesn’t happen alone. Change happens when we come together.

At Dismas House, Steven White found a special bond through our shared community.

"Dismas House, to me, means brotherhood. We're all wanting to prove to society that we're not just the conviction we had in the past." -Steven White

One resident, one story, one success at a time. This is how the bridge is built. Every dollar you give strengthens the foundation for a brighter future and transforms lives and entire communities:

$100 provides a resident with a cellphone

$250 provides a community outing for residents

$500 provides a resident with a welcome package

$1,000 provides eye exams and glasses for 10 residents

$2,500 provides one month of housing and services

Your generosity fills critical gaps left by shifting funding streams. Day and night, your dedication to second chances keeps our doors open for men with nowhere else to turn.

December 23, 2025

This holiday season, we’re reminded of how important you are to Dismas House.

"Dismas House is a new beginning. It’s a way for people who are fresh out of prison, fresh out of jail, to get back to being the person they want to be not just the person they used to be." - Will Roberts

Your impact helps to build bright futures for the many men we serve. Our residents would like to say a heartfelt thank you for giving them;

Hope

Courage

Stability

A Second Chance

Your generosity keeps our programs strong, and our doors open to men who need us most. Thank you for helping men cross the bridge from incarceration to independence.

Together, we are building bridges that transform lives.

December 30, 2025

This holiday season, we invited you to Be the Bridge — a bridge to hope, healing, and opportunity that transforms lives.

Dismas House residents Gary Biggs, David White, Jayson Peters, and Steven White entered our holistic residential reentry program where we were able to provide the tools they need to rebuild their lives and thrive. They are living proof that people can change.

Through the support of donors like you, they each found the bridge to:

Stable Housing

Job Training

Counseling

Community Support

Your continued support means we can help more men successfully transition into long-term success.

Don't forget, Dismas House remains open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Our goal is to raise $40,000 to strengthen our holistic residential reentry program.