Dismas of Vermont marks 40 years of housing after incarceration

Dismas of Vermont is celebrating four decades of transitional housing and community support for people returning home after incarceration and trauma. The nonprofit says its Vermont homes, volunteers and partners have helped 2,350 people since 1986, as demand for reentry support remains high.

Why it matters: - Dismas of Vermont has spent 40 years providing stable housing and community support for people reentering society after incarceration and trauma. - The nonprofit’s model is built around shared meals, shared responsibilities and volunteer support, which it says helps reduce isolation during a high-risk transition. - The organization’s reach extends across Burlington, Hartford, Winooski and Rutland, including a program for women that Dismas says is the only one of its kind.

What happened: - Dismas of Vermont is marking its 40th anniversary in 2026. - The organization opened its first house on Buell Street in Burlington in 1986. - Dismas of Vermont now operates five family-style homes and a growing number of step-down apartments. - Over four decades, the nonprofit says it has provided 337,719 days of supportive housing to 2,350 people. - Most residents have been Vermonters returning home after incarceration.

The details: - Volunteers led by Rita Whalen McCaffrey founded Dismas of Vermont around the idea that people leaving incarceration do better with a supportive community than alone. - McCaffrey received an honorary doctorate from St. Michael’s College in 2025 for her work in restorative justice. - Vermont magazine named McCaffrey one of the state’s most influential advocates for criminal justice reform in 2026. - McCaffrey remains closely involved in the organization in her 80s. - McCaffrey said community inside a Dismas house is the foundation of the organization’s work. - Volunteers, students, donors, faith communities and the Vermont Department of Corrections have all played central roles in the program. - Volunteers have contributed more than 285,000 hours. - The Volunteer Cooks Program has prepared, served and shared more than 29,000 meals. - Dismas says its mission is rooted in reconciliation and social inclusion for people who are often stigmatized and excluded.

Between the lines: - The anniversary underscores how reentry support is not just about beds, but about routine, relationships and trust. - The organization’s emphasis on volunteers suggests a community-based model that depends on sustained local buy-in, not only professional staff. - Alumni like Joshua Jewett show how the program is meant to support both immediate stabilization and longer-term recovery, employment and leadership. - Jewett, now a Certified Peer Support Provider and Dismas board member, said the house environment helped him move from addiction, homelessness and incarceration toward recovery and stability.

What's next: - Executive Director Jim Curran said Dismas of Vermont will keep using community, acceptance and care to meet growing needs. - Curran said the organization will continue creating opportunity where it is scarce and serving people others may avoid because the work is difficult or uncomfortable. - The long-term goal, Curran said, is ensuring access to a safe and caring community regardless of a person’s worst day. - Dismas of Vermont says people can donate, volunteer or learn more at dismasofvt.org.