Wonderful news…Our Catholic Charities of West Tennessee (CCWTN) and the Southern College of Optometry (SCO) announced earlier this week a new partnership that will bring free eye care and prescription eyeglasses to individuals experiencing homelessness through the growing Hope Heights collaboration which is transforming the Catholic Charities campus in Midtown Memphis.
Eye Exams
Beginning this summer, Southern College of Optometry faculty will provide comprehensive eye examinations from a newly established clinic located inside the Catholic Charities Campus at 1325 Jefferson Ave. Student clinicians will begin participating in patient care during the Fall 2026 Semester, expanding both access to care and hands-on educational opportunities.
Vision Care Important
The partnership directly responds to one of the greatest unmet needs identified by Catholic Charities. Through surveys conducted with individuals served by the organization, vision care consistently ranked among the most requested healthcare services.
George Nixon, CCWTN
“Hope Heights was created to bring organizations together under one roof so individuals can access coordinated care from multiple providers in one place,” said George Nixon, Executive Director, Catholic Charities of West Tennessee. “Southern College of Optometry is helping us remove another significant barrier to stability and independence. Better vision impacts employment, education, healthcare, safety, and overall quality of life.”
New Clinic Tools
The new clinic includes a traditional examination lane, a telehealth examination lane, and an optical dispensary made possible through the generosity of numerous community partners.
Dr. Theresa Cassidy, SCO
“Our goal is to extend Southern College of Optometry’s community outreach beyond The Eye Center and reach individuals who may otherwise never receive vision care,” said Dr. Theresa Cassidy, Assistant Professor, Southern College of Optometry. “This partnership benefits our patients while providing meaningful learning experiences for our students. It is a wonderful example of what can happen when organizations across Memphis work together to serve our community.”
Broad Community Effort
The collaboration represents the beginning of a broad community effort involving numerous partners, including:
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- Catholic Charities of West Tennessee, which provided clinic space as part of the Hope Heights collaborative campus.
- EssilorLuxottica, which donated a remote examination lane and will provide free single-vision and bifocal eyeglasses through its Changing Life Through Lenses program.
- Christ Community Health Services, which will provide medical referrals and integrated healthcare support.
- Southern College of Optometry faculty and staff, who designed, equipped, and prepared the clinical and optical spaces.
- Numerous local businesses and contractors that donated labor, materials, and expertise to renovate the clinic space.
More on Hope Heights
Hope Heights is Catholic Charities’ long-term vision for a collaborative campus where nonprofit organizations, healthcare providers, educational institutions, and community partners work side by side to help individuals move from crisis to stability and ultimately toward self-sufficiency. The addition of vision care strengthens an expanding network of services that continues to grow through strategic partnerships.
As additional healthcare, workforce development, education, legal, and supportive service providers join Hope Heights, the campus will continue evolving into one of the region’s most comprehensive hubs for wraparound care.