Beyoncé Knowles and Kelly Rowland have united for a great cause.
Knowles-Rowland House
“Harris County and the city of Houston, jointly with the coalition for the homeless, have reduced homeless in the middle of the pandemic by 20 percent, and we’ve been able to hold that reduction,” Judge Lina Hidalgo said in a press conference, according to the Houston Chronicle. “We just did the homeless count again, so it’s initiatives like this one I certainly will be supportive of no matter who’s behind it, but it’s especially interesting, I think, because there are these names of Beyoncé and Kelly Rowland, who, of course, have been supportive of the community for a very long time.”
.@LinaHidalgoTX on approving $7.2 million for 31 new housing units for the homeless with support of @Beyonce and @KELLYROWLAND. Planning a “bigger initiative” in September when Beyoncé is in town. pic.twitter.com/1ZpjEIBwnl
— Urban Reform (@urbanreformorg) June 27, 2023
It is estimated that the 31-unit housing complex will cost nearly $8.4 million, with $7.2 million donated by the American Rescue Plan. Rice University will also contribute. The course of action is to build the property at the Bread of Life gymnasium.
“This will be our fifth housing development in downtown in Precinct 1 over these last 17 years, and we’re just really grateful to continue to help end homelessness in our county,” said Rudy Rasmus, a local pastor and executive director of Bread of Life, according to the Chronicle.
The permanent housing project is expected to begin in October 2023, with plans to integrate services including transportation, mental health, and physical and behavioral health support.
What’s more, the partnership will pave the way for a “bigger launch” event in September, surrounding the new housing units. More details will be released when Beyoncé visits the Houston area for her “Renaissance World Tour.”
As AfroTech previously told you, the European leg of the highly anticipated tour closed with an estimated gross of $154.4 million. The performer will be heading to the United States to embark on tour stops in cities across the country, including Houston on Sept. 23 and Sept. 24 at NRG Stadium.