Earlier than entertaining her hometown with a pair of concert events scheduled for this weekend, one of many world’s largest pop superstars took half in an occasion that illustrates her love for Houston and help for its most underprivileged residents.
Beyoncé, whose Renaissance World Tour will make stops Saturday and Sunday at NRG Stadium, was in Midtown on Friday morning to have fun a forthcoming housing growth for the homeless that may bear her title and that of a former bandmate. The Knowles-Rowland Home will present everlasting supportive housing to 31 individuals in a three-story, 21,000-square foot facility to be constructed on the campus of St. John’s Downtown Church – the place the households of Beyoncé and fellow Future’s Baby singer Kelly Rowland have lengthy been congregants.
The $10.5 million development challenge is being led by native nonprofits Bread of Life, which is linked to the church, and Temenos Neighborhood Improvement Company.
“That was thrilling for all of us,” Monique Williams, the director of partnerships and growth for Bread of Life, mentioned of Beyoncé’s presence on the kickoff celebration occasion. “She’s a busy woman. She’s doing a few different issues this weekend. For her to pause and simply form of return house and to be on this house with us and to listen to once more what extra will probably be performed and to see her legacy, I believe it was fantastic for everybody to be in that house and share that together with her.”
RELATED: Metropolis welcomes Beyoncé again to Houston with homecoming get together
Rowland and Beyoncé, whose final title is Knowles, beforehand helped fund the Knowles-Rowland Heart for Youth, which opened in 1999 on the similar location. It sustained injury throughout Hurricane Harvey in 2017 and from a hearth in 2021, and has since been used for storage, in line with Bread of Life.
The constructing is being repurposed right into a housing growth that may present shelter for the homeless and a spread of help providers, together with life and job expertise coaching, transportation help and bodily, psychological and behavioral well being help.
RELATED: Houston closes its largest homeless encampment as many transfer to new housing navigation heart
Harris County Commissioners Courtroom in July approved $7.2 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding for the challenge. The remainder of the wanted funding is being raised by Bread of Life, which was based 31 years in the past and supplies scorching meals to Houston’s needy, meals and residential items distributions and academic and health-related providers, together with working a radio station.
Williams mentioned the Knowles-Rowland Home is anticipated to open earlier than the tip of 2024.
“This challenge will transfer Harris County nearer to realizing its imaginative and prescient for a vibrant, inclusive area the place everybody has the chance to thrive and a spot to name house,” Harris County Precinct 1 Commissioner Rodney Ellis mentioned in an announcement. “Entry to secure and reasonably priced housing is a basic human proper and a necessity that can not be addressed with out growing and preserving our reasonably priced housing inventory.”
RELATED: METRO so as to add extra transportation for Beyoncé reveals at NRG this weekend
Williams mentioned she couldn’t say whether or not Beyoncé herself – who earlier this 12 months grew to become the winningest musician within the historical past of the Grammy Awards – is contributing funding to the housing growth that will probably be named partly after her and her household.
However Williams and Bread of Life are undoubtedly grateful for Beyoncé’s help and what she described as a shock look at Friday’s kickoff celebration. Beyoncé’s mom, Tina Knowles-Lawson, additionally was in attendance.
“Who ever expects Beyoncé to be anyplace? Every little thing’s all the time a shock,” Williams mentioned. “I believe it was fantastic for everyone to have the ability to actually form of see her dedication to our work.”
– Written by Adam Zuvanich
