City officials celebrate the groundbreaking of the redevelopment of Covenant House Texas facility
March 9, 2023 -- Houston, Texas -- Mayor Sylvester Turner and partners on Thursday, March 9 celebrated the groundbreaking of Covenant House Texas (CHT) - Building for Life, redevelopment at 1111 Lovett Blvd., Houston.
Located in the Montrose neighborhood, the CHT- Building for Life sits on approximately 2.7 acres and will provide an updated shelter and supportive programs to successfully guide homeless youth ages 18 to 24 years to independence.
“I congratulate the hardworking people of Covenant House Texas on this milestone and the ambition and tenacity they have to help youth experiencing homelessness during their formative years,” said Mayor Sylvester Turner. “For decades, CHT has been a beacon of hope for the growing population of youth experiencing homelessness, human trafficking, and other struggles no one should be living through, especially young people. The tireless work of Leslie Bourne, the CHT board of directors, and staff is commendable and sets a strong example of servant leadership in the Houston – Harris County community.”
The City of Houston contributed $6.7 million in Community Block Grant Development (CDBG) and CDBG-Corona Virus funds toward the cost of this redevelopment which will include expanded living and clinic space to increase physical and behavioral health care for residents.
Since Mayor Turner took office, there has been a 61% reduction in youth homelessness.
“HCD is committed to reducing youth homelessness in our city, and partnerships like the one we have with Covenant House Texas will help us do that,” said Director Keith Bynam, City of Houston Housing and Community Development (HCD). “The extensive array of wraparound services CHT provides youth will pave the way for their success. We look forward to continuing to flourish our relationship with Covenant House Texas and will not stop until youth homelessness is a thing of the past.”
For over 38 years, Covenant House Texas (CHT) has provided shelter for homeless, abused, and abandoned youth ages 18-24. CHT offers an extensive continuum of care model for homeless youth, including mental health and substance abuse counseling, educational and vocational training, transitional and permanent living programs, street outreach and prevention, faith-based ministry, and parenting classes, in addition to providing the necessities of food, clothing, medical care, and safe shelter from the streets for youth in crisis.
The City of Houston Housing and Community Development (HCD) department makes long-term investments to improve the lives of Houston residents by creating opportunities for every Houstonian to have a home they can afford in a community where they can thrive. Our department will invest approximately $450 million in federal, state, and local funds this fiscal year to construct and maintain affordable homes, reduce barriers to homeownership, support the work of social service providers, build public amenities, and facilitate disaster recovery efforts. Learn more about programs and resources for Houstonians at http://houstontx.gov/housing.
