Beyonce and Kelly Rowland, two renowned Houston natives, are joining forces with Harris County officials to construct 31 permanent housing units in Midtown.
The collaborative effort, which was announced on Tuesday, will utilize $7.2 million in funds from the American Rescue Plan to develop housing at the Bread of Life gymnasium on Crawford Street.
Judge Lina Hidalgo revealed that a grander unveiling of the housing units will take place in September during Beyonce’s Renaissance World Tour in Houston.
The city will host her two performances at NRG Stadium on September 23 and 24.
Hidalgo emphasized the importance of such initiatives, citing a 20 percent reduction in homelessness in Harris County and the city of Houston during the pandemic.
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According to a recent survey conducted by the Coalition for the Homeless in May, Houston’s unhoused population has decreased by an estimated 17 percent since 2022.
The Knowles-Rowland House project, in addition to the 31 housing units, will provide comprehensive support services such as case managers, peer specialists, and transportation.
Precinct 1 Commissioner Rodney Ellis stated that the project is expected to commence construction in October, with an estimated total cost of $8.4 million. Additional funding will be sourced from external organizations, including Rice University.
Local Pastor Rudy Rasmus, who serves as the executive director of Bread of Life, expressed gratitude for the county’s collaboration.
He revealed that the Knowles-Rowland Project was inspired by Beyonce, Kelly Rowland, and Michelle Williams of Destiny’s Child, who used funds from their hit single “No, No, No” to construct a youth center in the city.
Rasmus added that this housing development marks the fifth project aimed at ending homelessness in downtown Precinct 1 over the past 17 years.
