The Bridge, a homeless shelter in downtown Dallas, has announced that Dr. David Woody will retire as CEO in 2026.
The Bridge Homeless Recovery Center is a nonprofit shelter and one-stop shop that helps homeless people get off the streets. Board Chair Lynn McBee announced on October 27 that Woody, president and CEO, will retire on July 3, 2026.
“Dr. Woody has guided The Bridge through a period of growth, innovation, and community transformation,” said Marketing and Communications Manager Erica Barnett to The Dallas Express.
“The Board of Directors will form a Search Committee and initiate a formal process to identify and select Dr. Woody’s successor,” added Barnett.
Woody has more than 40 years of experience in social work and nonprofit leadership, according to Barnett. He began working with The Bridge in 2015 as chief services officer, then took office as president and CEO in 2018.
Woody will continue to serve in an advisory role through the end of 2026, according to a press release. Barnett promised the transition would be “seamless and strategic.”
“I want to assure you that our mission remains steadfast: to serve as a bridge from homelessness to recovery through coordinated care, partnerships and human connection,” McBee said in the initial announcement. “The organization Dr. Woody helped shape is strong, well-led and deeply aligned with the needs of our community.”
The Bridge is Dallas’ largest free homeless shelter. It sits off Corsicana Street, just south of downtown – amid some of the city’s worst homelessness. Woody has been instrumental in working with city officials and other nonprofits to get homeless people off the streets.
The City of Dallas, Downtown Dallas Inc., and nonprofits like Housing Forward have been coordinating a “Safe In The City” campaign since the summer of 2024, sending homeless people to shelters like The Bridge, as The Dallas Express previously reported.
Meanwhile, the shelter has been canvassing and cleaning a two-block radius for five years, after disorganized feedings with other groups that leave piles of trash in the streets.
“Serving The Bridge community has been the honor of my career,” Woody said in the release. “Together, we have strengthened an organization that not only changes lives but restores dignity and purpose. I look forward to supporting this transition and ensuring that The Bridge remains a beacon of recovery and hope for years to come.”
Under Woody’s leadership, The Bridge has become one of the “most respected and effective” homeless recovery models in America – bringing nearly 1,000 people off the streets into sustainable housing every year, according to the release.
The shelter serves more than 7,000 people annually.
“David Woody’s leadership has been nothing short of transformational,” McBee said. “He has elevated The Bridge as a model of compassionate care and measurable impact — anchored in dignity, recovery, and opportunity.”
Woody’s career in social work and nonprofits included Volunteers of America Texas, The Salvation Army, and Catholic Charities Fort Worth, according to the release. He has held academic appointments at Baylor University, the University of Texas at Arlington, and Texas Christian University.
The Dallas Business Journal named Woody the Most Inspiring Leader of 2021, the All Neighbors Coalition honored him with the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2023, and Dartmouth College honored him with the Lester B. Granger Social Justice Lifetime Achievement Award in 2025.
“Dr. Woody considers one of his greatest accomplishments to be transforming the public perception of The Bridge,” Barnett said. “Under his leadership, The Bridge has become a more positive, welcoming, and recovery-centered environment where both Guests and Staff are united in purpose and hope.”
Woody views his job not just as social work, but as “soul work,” according to The Bridge’s website. He faced a recent battle with cancer, and instead of stepping back, he pressed on.
“Between cancer treatments and doctor visits, he remained present. He remained purposeful,” the website reads. “He remained … Dr. Woody.”
Woody often speaks with guests in the courtyard, picks up trash along the perimeter, and ventures out to bring in a homeless person who is hesitant about services. He visits former guests in the hospital, makes house calls, and donates blood to strangers.
“If he’s not in his office, it’s probably because he’s somewhere being the hands and feet of the mission he holds so dear,” the website reads. “Dr. Woody doesn’t just talk about recovery, he lives it.”
Jay Dunn, then-president and CEO of The Bridge, visited Woody’s class at TCU as a guest lecturer in 2015, according to Barnett. Within one week, he contacted Woody with an opportunity he “could not pass up” – to serve as chief services officer.
“Dr. Woody brought a wealth of experience and insight from his prior leadership roles with The Salvation Army and Volunteers of America Texas, where he had become familiar with The Bridge Homeless Recovery Center and its mission,” she said.
Woody became president and CEO in 2018, according to Barnett. She said the leadership team is prepared to continue his legacy, ensuring stability, continuity, and excellence in service.
“Dr. Woody is confident that The Bridge, the largest shelter serving single adults in the Dallas area, will continue to stand as a beacon of recovery and hope for years to come,” Barnett said. “He envisions The Bridge maintaining its central role in supporting individuals experiencing homelessness and fostering lasting recovery through compassion, collaboration, and care.”
McBee expressed gratitude for Woody’s years of service.
“His steady hand and visionary heart have guided both our team and our community to a deeper understanding of what it truly means to end homelessness one person at a time,” she said. “We are profoundly grateful for his service, his mentorship and his legacy.”