Donte’ Vaughn

Founder & Executive Director, Bridge901 Housing LLC

Donte’ Vaughn is the Founder and Executive Director of Bridge901 Housing LLC, a Memphis-based transitional housing organization committed to helping adults build stable, productive, and independent lives through safe housing, structure, and supportive partnerships.

A graduate of the University of Notre Dame with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology, Donte’ has dedicated his career to leadership, service, and creating opportunities for individuals facing significant life challenges. Before entering the nonprofit sector, he fulfilled a lifelong dream of playing professional football in the NFL, where he developed the discipline, resilience, teamwork, and accountability that continue to shape his leadership today. 

Following his football career, Donte’ committed himself to serving vulnerable populations through direct human services. As a Behavioral Youth Counselor with Youth Villages, he worked with youth in residential treatment who were overcoming behavioral, emotional, and traumatic life challenges. In this role, he developed individualized treatment plans, facilitated individual and group counseling sessions, taught independent living skills, documented treatment progress, and helped young people develop healthier coping strategies while preparing them for successful futures. 

Donte’ later expanded his impact as a Senior Case Manager with Bronxworks in New York City where he worked with adults experiencing homelessness, mental health conditions, substance use disorders, HIV, and justice system involvement. He collaborates with healthcare providers, government agencies, and community organizations to develop comprehensive care plans, manage high-risk cases, supervise staff, and connect clients to housing, healthcare, employment, and other essential resources that promote long-term stability. 

Inspired by years of working directly with individuals overcoming housing instability, behavioral health challenges, and involvement with the justice system, Donte’ founded Bridge901 Housing to address one of the greatest barriers to successful reintegration—access to safe, stable, and supportive housing.

Bridge901 was built on the belief that housing is more than shelter—it is the foundation for rebuilding lives. Under Donte’s leadership, the organization provides structured transitional housing while partnering with correctional agencies, behavioral health providers, hospitals, veteran organizations, homeless service providers, faith-based organizations, and community nonprofits to help residents achieve lasting stability, employment, recovery, and independence.

His long-term vision is to develop Bridge901 into one of the Mid-South’s leading transitional housing organizations by expanding access to quality housing, strengthening community partnerships, and creating pathways that reduce homelessness, support recovery, and promote successful community reintegration.