Since 1986, Dismas of Vermont has provided shelter and support to people making the difficult transition out of incarceration. Join us in our mission of reconciliation at one of our five houses across Vermont.
Together, and with your help, we can create a more just, safe, and productive Vermont.
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The Dismas community is a village comprised of people from all walks of life and many corners of the world; Volunteers for Peace has enriched this little kaleidoscope of ours for decades.
As an organization, Volunteers for Peace has a rich and long-standing history going back to the late 1960s when Peter Coldwell, Founder of Volunteers For Peace, participated in international short-term voluntary service projects in Hungary and Czechoslovakia through a program sponsored by the Unitarian-Universalist Service Committee (UUSC) in Boston. The value of working on a shared project, helping a community, and forming ties with other volunteers, coupled with his frustrations with the state of the world, motivated him to create an American international voluntary service organization.
I became addicted to painkillers at the age of 23, and it pretty much went downhill slowly from there. Over the years, I started to decline a little every year. Until I ended up in prison in NH and VT. I have 2 daughters named Addison and Avery and they mean the world to me. Since being out of prison, I have been able to reconnect with them thanks to the help of Dismas. I have been able to see my daughters go to the first day of 2nd grade and the first day of kindergarten. Without Dismas giving me this chance, I would have never been able to see their first days of school if I was still inside a southern state prison. So I am very grateful for this opportunity.
Click on the blog title to read his entire speech.
As part of the Hartford Dismas Houses' 10th birthday community celebration, Tim Arbuckle, a Dismas alum, stood at the microphone and told his story. A standing ovation followed.
"I am now maxed out from supervision and have held my job at Brady Plus for two years. I am completely clean and sober since that relapse in October 2022 and I'm a totally different person. I owe all my success to Dismas House and the staff for believing in me and guiding me to my full potential and changing my life for the better."
Click on the blog title to read his entire speech.
Dismas House can be described as a “family-like” community, with structured and supportive daily rhythms in our transitional homes. There is a spirit of openness and participation in consensus decision-making by all members of the Dismas community. Students, international volunteers, and former prisoners live together and share weekday dinners with staff and volunteer cooks from the broader community.
Learn More About the Houses
Each house has their own unique set of events. Some even share events! Check out our event calendar to learn more.
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The five Dismas Houses in Vermont could not exist without volunteers. Founded and sustained by a dedicated and enthusiastic group of individuals committed to providing a positive alternative living situation for newly released prisoners, Dismas House has continued to benefit from the time and talents of hundreds of Vermont residents. See how you can make a difference.
Volunteer
