OUR STORY
Zach Waters
Executive Director
Zach Waters is the founder and Executive Director of Homes for Hearts and A Lee Dog Story. Waters was born and raised in Memphis where he developed a strong passion to bring community-driven change. When Zach was a teenager, he befriended a man named Lee Brown, known by many Memphians as “Lee Dog”. Waters watched firsthand as Brown got a “new lease on life” by obtaining housing, employment, transportation and a community of support.
In 2005, Zach enrolled in Memphis College of Art to pursue a degree in film and animation and soon began filming his first documentary about Memphis. While filming countless Memphian stories, Lee Brown’s was absolutely the most powerful. Zach found countless people that had been left to face homelessness alone on the streets of Memphis and soon realized he would need a lot more resources to ensure his project had a real impact on their lives and the city of Memphis.
In 2008, Zach helped start a film production company in Memphis that is currently thriving in Los Angeles. Although he is no longer a part of the company, the inception of Prodigi Arts with childhood friend Christopher O’Conner was the beginning of his business and professional film education.
In 2018, while Zach was still working as Executive Producer for Avalon Cakes School of Sugar Art, Lee Brown passed away from an infection in his leg, prompting Waters to found A Lee Dog Story, 501(c)(3) nonprofit to engage the public with stories of life on the streets and recovery through the power of art, film and storytelling. Over 2019, after returning to Memphis to film countless new stories, Waters decided he would find a permanent solution to helping Memphians out of homelessness and toward homeownership.
After a year and a half of research surrounding the causes, effects and solutions of homelessness, in 2020, Zach founded Homes for Hearts, 501(c)(3) nonprofit in Memphis, TN. Through new and existing relationships, Waters developed partnerships with Room in the Inn, Dwayne A. Jones Construction Company, LLC, Arch Inc. and Binghampton Community Land Trust to build small, single-family tiny homes throughout the Memphis area, while also offering supportive services to each of their residents as they move off the streets and toward homeownership.
November, 2021 Homes for Hearts completed the smallest permitted house in Shelby County, at 280sf for a Veteran that had been experiencing homelessness on the streets of Memphis for over a decade. As of June 2024, that Veteran still occupies the tiny home. He loves it. He says, “The home, the street, the neighborhood all feel like home to him.” – First Resident
In 2023, Homes for Hearts acquired tiny house 2 & 3 in Memphis, TN, 38114 and our 2nd and third resident moved in.
In 2023, Homes for Hearts partnered with Dorothy Day House to help outfit and furnish our tiny homes.
In 2023, Homes for Hearts went under contract for tiny house 4 & 5, in Memphis, TN, 38108.
In 2024, Homes for Hearts partnered with Bridges for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (BridgesWEST). Bridges will also help Homes for Hearts vet new applicants and support those who become transition residents and ultimately, Homes for Hearts homeowners.
Homes for Hearts’ 4th resident has been vetted by Bridges for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing and fifth, by Room in the Inn.
When Zach first met Tracy Logan in 2021, she had experienced homelessness for over 3 years, had just come out of the hospital suffering from cancer, and was currently living at Room in the Inn’s Recuperative Care Center. Tracy, who first shared her story in a Sep 12, 2022 article in the Daily Memphian, was recently promoted to manager at Sprouts, May 2024 and is living cancer free with her service dog, Marley. Tracy is currently enrolled in Transition Phase Two of our Homeownership Program and just submitted her 10th payment to Homes for Hearts, without missing a beat. In August 2024, Tracy will become eligible for our zero interest, zero profit mortgage on a tiny home, and is a prime example of someone entering our program and in less than 2 years finding self-sustainability, and being ready for homeownership.
Board of Directors
Lolita Crittendon
board chair
Chair and native Memphian, Lolita S. Crittendon is a graduate of Hamilton High School and an Associate Degree from Southwest Community College. Lolita is the Hospitality Coordinator and Housing Stabilization Coordinator for Room In The Inn – Memphis. Lolita is a member of Freedom’s Chapel Christian Church where she is a Deacon and dedicated member. Lolita also serves as chair coordinator for Room In The Inn Congregational Shelter at Freedom’s Chapel. In doing so she discovered her passion for helping and serving individuals on the margin. Lolita carries that same passion as she meets and greets each person that enters the door at Room In The Inn Memphis. Lolita Crittendon is excited as she joins Home for Hearts’ Board of Directors as she continues to do what she does best.
Daniel Irwin
Treasurer
Treasurer and native Memphian, Daniel Irwin brings a lifelong experience of Memphis and community to our nonprofit. Daniel was born and raised in Memphis and proudly lives here with his wife, daughter and 2 dogs. He has worked for several social-service agencies and non-profits during the course of his career, currently serving as the Director of Public Relations for the Better Business Bureau of the Mid-south. With a long history of volunteering in the community and a passion for helping others, he is thrilled to now serve on the Board of Homes for Hearts.
Deidre Chatman
Secretary
Secretary, Deidre S. Chatman grew up in Memphis. Deidre graduated from Kirby High School. She received a bachelor’s degree in Therapeutic Recreation from University of Mississippi, a MBA in healthcare management from University of Phoenix, and a masters in education from Arizona State University. Deidre has been a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) since 2009 and served different populations of people over 5 states, from Mississippi, Texas, New Mexico to Missouri. Since moving back to the Mid-south Deidre has become a licensed special education teacher in two states. She is currently serving as a Quality Services Director at Open Arms Care, inc. Deidre enjoys DIY projects, learning, helping people, traveling and nature, and is an awesome aunt to an awesome seven year old named Kingston. She is excited about the new opportunities that are in store with Homes for Hearts.
Luke Waters
Director and native Memphian, Luke Waters served a critical role in the structural and strategic development of Homes for Hearts. Luke Waters graduated magna cum laude and Omicron Delta Kappa from Ohio Wesleyan University (OWU) with a B.A. in International Relations and Politics and Government. Luke began his professional career working as an Americorps Facilitator at BRIDGES, USA in his hometown of Memphis. He spent a year guiding hundreds of students through social justice and youth leadership workshops that gave them the tools to create systemic change in their city. After finishing his service year, Luke was passionate about continuing to work with youth, so he moved to New York City to serve as a Service Learning Coordinator at buildOn, Inc. While there, Luke engaged hundreds of Bronx students in community service activities and started the organization’s first ever regional Student Leadership Team. After leaving buildOn, Luke worked as an Admissions Counselor at two different universities in Memphis. Luke is currently living in Washington D.C. pursuing a Master of Political Communication at SPA with the goal to work in organizational and strategic development moving forward. Luke loves his city and shows his dedication and passion by helping create new opportunities for Memphians.
Partners
Homes for Hearts partners with Room In the Inn to help with the vetting process and case management of Homes for Hearts residents.
Homes for Hearts partners with Bridges for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing to help with the vetting process and case management of Homes for Hearts residents.
Since opening in 1999, Target House has been a place of comfort for thousands of families while their children receive treatment at St. Jude. Homes for Hearts is grateful to partner with Target House to help outfit our tiny homes for Memphis.
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 families experiencing houselessness in Memphis, TN. Homes for Hearts is grateful to partner with Dorothy Day House to help outfit our tiny homes for Memphis.
As an architectural engineering graduate for Tennessee State University, licensed general contractor, and residential developer, Dwayne A. Jones has been working for over a decade to bring life back to vacant lots in Orange Mound, the neighborhood he grew up in. Dwayne got the idea to build “tiny homes” while traveling on mission trips to Haiti and seeing people living in smaller homes. In 2015, Dwayne helped build a micro home community in Nashville for people experiencing homelessness. Homes for Hearts has partnered with Dwayne A. Jones Construction Company, LLC to build our small, single-family houses.
Dwayne and his team have completed construction on Homes for Hearts’ first tiny house in Memphis, TN. The lovely four-room, 280 sf house is the smallest house permitted in Shelby County, TN.
Homes for Hearts partners with A2H, a collaborative planning and design firm of architects, engineers, landscape architects, and interior designers.
Founded in 2018 in response to Binghampton residents’ call for more affordable housing, the Binghampton Community Land Trust (BCLT) is a community-based nonprofit dedicated to revitalizing and empowering the neighborhood. BCLT creates pools of affordably priced, owner-occupied homes for low- to moderate-income families and uses a community land trust model to keep those homes affordable forever. By preventing market-driven displacement, BCLT ensures that limited-income residents can remain in Binghampton.
