Carrying the Torch through Memphis: The Dorothy Day House
The Dorothy Day House is devoted to serving families experiencing houselessness. Working with other local agencies, staff members, and volunteers, the Dorothy Day House provides families in need with a safe environment and the means to re-establish their independence. The nonprofit’s comprehensive services allow families to stay together.
The Dorothy Day House is devoted to serving families experiencing houselessness. Working with other local agencies, staff members, and volunteers, the Dorothy Day House provides families in need with a safe environment and the means to re-establish their independence. The nonprofit’s comprehensive services allow families to stay together.
Carry the Torch through Memphis is a monthly series highlighting the great work of nonprofit organizations in Memphis. This article was written by team members at Campfire Collective in collaboration with I Love Memphis.
We spoke to Tracy Burgess, Executive Director of the Dorothy Day House, about their mission to care for families experiencing housing instability and ways you can support their work.
We spoke to Tracy Burgess, Executive Director of the Dorothy Day House, about their mission to care for families experiencing housing instability and ways you can support their work.
Tell us about the Dorothy Day House: Who do you serve? Why is the work you do important?
Rooted in the tradition of the Gospels and inspired by the vision and passion of Dorothy Day, the Dorothy Day House provides temporary housing and support services for unhoused families in Memphis. All guests are welcomed as Christ with no discrimination.
This mission is important because there are far too many families in our community who do not have a consistent place to sleep each night. Most families become houseless through one of three circumstances: trauma, unemployment/under-employment, or generational poverty. No matter what the cause of their houselessness is, we welcome all families and work with them to get them stable housing and secure employment.
Whether a family is literally unhoused, meaning they are staying outdoors or in an uninhabitable place, or they are bouncing from place to place for as long as they can, Dorothy Day House may be an option for them to rebuild their foundation.
How did the Dorothy Day House start?
A small group who formed the Dorothy Day House in Memphis studied the life of Dorothy Day, a journalist and activist who lived from 1897 to 1980. Knowing her life story transformed their own life journeys. They researched the needs of Memphis in the early 2000s and learned there was not a shelter option for married couples or pre-teen/teenage boys.
In typical shelters, unhoused families are often separated. Men are sent to one shelter while women, girls, and little boys are sent to another. Parents often must place their teenage boys in foster care or find someone willing to provide a home and care for them.
The creators of the Dorothy Day House intentionally created a home where entire families could stay together. Even today, because the Dorothy Day House does not rely primarily on Federal funding, we have quite a bit more flexibility in who and how we can serve families in need.
How can Memphians get involved with your organization or volunteer?
The DDH has a variety of volunteer opportunities! Volunteers can: sort donations, provide childcare, drive families to appointments, clean or repair the houses, mow the yards, or answer the phone and provide resources to families looking for help.
Ben Short is our Volunteer Coordinator who can help those who are interested find meaningful ways to get involved. You can register to volunteer here: Volunteer — Dorothy Day House.
What are some big events or fundraisers that Dorothy Day House has annually, and how can people contribute?
Our annual fundraiser, Dinner with Dorothy presented by Choates, is coming up Sunday, March 2 at Avon Acres. The event will include live entertainment by cellist Tamar Love, a happy hour with a wine pull, and time for browsing our exciting auction items followed by a delicious dinner. We will wrap up the evening with a live auction, dessert, and an inspiring testimonial by a former Dorothy Day House family. Tickets can be purchased online at www.dorothydaymemphis.org.
We also have Café du Memphis hosted by the Rotary Club of Memphis and presented by Orion on May 3 at Overton Shell. More details at www.cafedumemphis.org.
Tell us about your organization’s dreams and goals for the short-term and long-term? What does success look like for Dorothy Day House?
We are currently in the middle of the 5-6-7 Vision. It’s a campaign that over five years (2022 - 2027) will raise $6 million to complete seven initiatives. More information can be found online at 5-6-7 Vision — Dorothy Day House. We have started most of the initiatives and raised just shy of $3 million.
This year, we are focused on building the endowment so that the Dorothy Day House can be in operations as long as the services are needed. We’re looking forward to celebrating our 20th anniversary next year.
Tell us a little about you: How long have you been working with the Dorothy Day House? What's your favorite part about your work?
I started volunteering with the Dorothy Day House in 2012 and joined the organization through AmeriCorps Vista in 2014. In 2015, I was hired as the Director of Development and was grateful to become the Executive Director in 2022 when our founding Director retired.
My husband and I also opened Lucy J’s Bakery in Crosstown Concourse in 2018. We intentionally hire parents who are transitioning out of a period of homelessness. In the earliest days as a volunteer at the Dorothy Day House, my husband and I helped develop the Sunday night prayer and dessert volunteer opportunity by bringing desserts. We were testing some of the current Lucy J’s Bakery recipes before the bakery even existed!
My favorite part of this work is the community that I get to be a part of. I want to do my part in creating spaces where everyone belongs.
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