GIVING BACK
He had founded Dismas House in Nashville in 1974, a transitional home where students and returning citizens lived together, sharing daily meals and household responsibilities.
At Hickey’ s invitation, the McCaffrey’ s joined him for dinner at the Nashville Dismas House.“ It was our first experience seeing transitional housing up close,” shares McCaffrey.“ We were struck by how effective it was— and how human.” When they returned to Vermont, she gathered a small task force of prison volunteers and community members to discuss the possibility of replicating the model.“ Housing was the greatest need. We wanted to create a place where people could live in community and rebuild their lives.”
Funding was scarce, and the group’ s first grant proposal was rejected.“ I think being turned down motivated us even more,” she said with a smile.“ There was a passion in the group to make it happen.” With Father Hickey’ s mentorship, Vermont’ s first Dismas House opened in Burlington in September 1986.“ We never dreamed we’ d have more than one house,” says McCaffrey.“ It was a miracle that we could pull it off.”
Resistance, Growth, and Reconciliation
Not every community embraced the concept right away.“ In Rutland, with the second house, we had a big challenge,” recalls McCaffrey.“ We couldn’ t open on time— it took about a year because we had to go to court.” With time, fear turned into trust.“ Once people become volunteers and see how well the program is run, we don’ t have problems. The beautiful thing is the embrace of the
74 VERMONT MAGAZINE communities. We’ re blessed, and I’ m very grateful.”
Over the next three decades, Dismas of Vermont expanded, establishing additional homes throughout Vermont in Winooski( 1997), Hartford( 2014), and the Rutland’ s Women’ s House( 2021). Each house follows the same structure: residents work or attend school by day, share evening meals with volunteer cooks, staff, and on occasion, some of their family. They meet weekly with staff to discuss goals, challenges, and responsibilities. They also are responsible for a modest, weekly program fee.“ Many of these folks haven’ t experienced family-style living,” notes McCaffrey.“ At Dismas dinner, everyone sits down together, beginning the meal, by sharing what they’ re thankful for from that day. Each week, there’ s a House Meeting to see how folks are doing, giving them opportunity to talk about what’ s working well and what they’ d like to change about their community living. Chores are always taken up, making sure all are participating responsibly. Also, they plan Dismas family activities for holidays, and camping or other activities during the various seasons. It’ s simple— and it’ s powerful.”
The organization’ s philosophy— drawn from the biblical story of the Good Thief, Saint Dismas— is rooted in forgiveness and mutual restoration.“ At its heart, Dismas is about relationships,” explains McCaffrey.“ For society to heal, both the individual and the community must participate in reconciliation.” Each house provides structure and accountability, but it also offers something deeper: The sense of belonging.“ It’ s the message of acceptance as opposed to rejection. Inclusion instead of separation.”
The McCaffreys: A Shared Calling
Throughout the organization’ s growth, Rita’ s husband, Frank, remained her steadfast partner.“ Any story about me would be about my husband,” she says.“ He was always helping— not in the limelight. He couldn’ t do certain things because he became a judge, but he was the one who was quietly stuffing envelopes, caring for the children, and driving me to speak.” Later, as a Vermont District Court Judge and then in retirement, as a Treatment Court Judge, Frank shared her conviction that justice must also be compassionate.“ He loved the Treatment Court,” says McCaffrey.“ He believed that accountability and healing could go hand in hand.”
Their shared faith, humility, and sense of purpose became the foundation of Dismas’ success.“ There are so many people in our world like my husband. People who nobody sees— but they make the work possible.” That spirit of quiet dedication became a defining feature of the Dismas community itself. It’ s a network sustained not by titles or fanfare, but by volunteers, neighbors, and staff. They show up, night after night, to serve dinner and share conversation with residents beginning anew.
In 1988, McCaffrey entered public service, winning a seat in the Vermont Senate for Rutland County. Two years later, she made a choice that reflected her deepest values, and she gave up her Senate seat to continue her work at Dismas. Now in her late eighties, she remains as humble and grounded as ever.“ I’ ve had several months to reflect and realize that honorary doctorate degrees are given to people in the community who have given their lives to helping others,” adds McCaffrey.“ It’ s humbling.”