Building Stability: Steven’s Journey at Dismas House

March 12, 2026

When individuals leave incarceration, the first weeks can determine everything. Housing, employment, identification, transportation, and health care must all be rebuilt at once. Since arriving at Dismas House on November 24, Steven says the experience has been more than he ever expected.

“We get out and don’t know where to start,” Steven continues. “Dismas House has helped me with every issue I’ve had. Employment, my driver’s license, doctor visits and health… just everything you can think of that you’re going to need when you come out of a place like we’ve come out of.”

Like many returning citizens, Steven faced the overwhelming question of what comes next. While Dismas House helped him prepare for employment, Steven quickly took initiative. After building his resume through job readiness training, he applied to the first relevant job he saw on Indeed. They called him the same day! Within two days, he was hired.

“They saw I had pizza experience, and that was it!” he says with a smile. “The manager said it was a perfect fit. It was meant to be.”

Goodfellas Pizzeria, a New York-style pizzeria and speakeasy in the Gulch, serves oversized slices, New York cheesecake, half-moon cookies, and more. For Steven, it’s not just a job. It’s a craft he’s been honing for decades.

“I’ve been working in pizza for 20 years, ever since I was 13. I was in 8th grade slapping pizzas and getting paid cash. It was great!”

Right out of high school, Steven began working at Domino’s, eventually becoming a manager in Gatlinburg, where he worked for three years. He later spent four years as a shift manager at Papa John’s in Pigeon Forge back when it was brand new to the area.

“Pizza,” Steven says, “is harder than it looks. It’s a job that’s hard to explain unless you do it. It’s a fun job. You’ve got people coming in all the time, so you’ve got an audience. Pizza is fun, no matter who you are.”

But mastering it takes skill and precision. That’s where Steven’s prior experience has proven invaluable. In fact, they just had their busiest day ever. Steven was there for it all with his usual great work ethic and attitude. “That was a big day,” he says. “But I love it.”

His favorite pizza at Goodfellas? The Goodfella! It’s loaded with pepperoni, Italian sausage, ground beef, and bacon. Though after making pizzas all day, he admits he doesn’t often make them for himself. “Every once in a while, I’ll stop and have a slice or two.”

No Plans for Slowing Down

At Dismas House, Steven says he’s had positive experiences with everyone he’s met. He speaks especially highly of his case manager, Autumn.

Steven stays busy and doesn’t have much downtime, but that’s exactly how he likes it.

“Right now, I’m focused on keeping my employment and saving money.”

That’s not all he’s focused on, however. Steven just completed a major milestone at Dismas House, having graduated from the 90-day program on February 24th.

At Dismas House, graduation marks an important step forward for residents working to rebuild their lives after incarceration. Residents spend months in structured programming that focuses on employment, financial stability, behavioral health, accountability, and community reintegration. As a result, Dismas House graduates have a three-year recidivism rate of just 2.5%, compared to nearly 30% across Tennessee.

It’s a success that’s often shared with families, and Steven’s family was no different.

In fact, it was so important to Steven and his family that his sisters, Sherry and Catherine, drove through a snowstorm all the way from Pigeon Forge and Sevierville, Tennessee, just to celebrate this amazing achievement with him.

Now that he has achieved this milestone, Steven has no plans of slowing down. In fact, because of all the positivity that surrounds him here, he plans to stay at Dismas House for another year.

“I’m a big creature of habit, and I don’t like to change routine. Everything’s working. I’ve got a good place to stay, good people around me, and I’m close to work. It’s just too good to throw away. I’m going to maintain this for as long as I can.”

When reflecting on what Dismas House has meant to him, Steven grows thoughtful. “Dismas House has been great! I wasn’t expecting this at all,” Steven shares. “Their contributions help tremendously. I don’t even want to think about what my life would be like without Dismas House.”

He speaks about the small but essential things many people take for granted, things like transportation, doctor’s visits, food assistance, and a driver’s license. Those barriers can feel overwhelming, especially coming from East Tennessee, where public transportation is scarce.

“Little things like that people take for granted, but not me.”

Today, thanks to the structure and support he found at Dismas House, Steven is building a stable future.
Recently, that progress was recognized when his manager promoted him to Shift Manager at Goodfellas. Steven’s story is a powerful reminder of what becomes possible when returning citizens have access to stable housing, guidance, and a community that believes in their potential.