Celebrating 50 Years of Dismas House

Dismas House was founded in 1974 by Father Jack Hickey, a Vanderbilt University chaplain. Father Hickey founded the organization alongside the Vanderbilt Prison Project after observing the lack of services and housing available to returning citizens. A true visionary, he purchased an 8-bed house on Music Row and, together with a group of Vanderbilt University students and returning citizens, renovated the home.

For 46 years, Dismas House provided services to returning citizens on Music Row, before relocating in 2020. Since 1974, Father Hickey’s vision has positively impacted countless lives and created ripple effects far beyond the Middle Tennessee community.