CASE STUDY
Majority Equity Investor Closed June 2024
The Bread of Life Permanent Supportive Housing Project (Knowles-Rowland House) consists of the adaptive reuse of the Knowles-Rowland Center for Youth, transforming it into permanent support housing for people who have experienced “chronic homelessness.” Chronic homelessness is defined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (“HUD”) as being homeless continuously for at least one year or having at least four episodes of homelessness in the past three years totaling at least 12 months.
*at time of investment
Originally constructed in 1999 as a gymnasium and youth center using funds derived from the earnings of Destiny’s Child first single and named after band members/longtime church members Beyoncé Knowles and Kelly Rowland, the Knowles-Rowland Center for Youth experienced significant damage due to Hurricane Harvey in 2017 and a fire in 2021 and has since been primarily used for storage. The redevelopment of the site will create 31 units of supportive housing, including 16 units designed with accommodations for those with mobility or sensory impairments.
The project is sponsored by the Bread of Life, a well-respected nonprofit affiliated with St. John’s Downtown Church that focuses on issues of homelessness, health, and hunger relief. All rents within the project will be 100% subsidized by HUD’s ProjectBased Voucher (“PBV”) program administered by the Houston Housing Authority. Residents will have access to a range of social services including case management, mental health counseling, substance abuse treatment, life skills training, and nutrition assistance through a partnership with Temenos Community Development Corporation, Bread of Life’s sister organization.
The project features community meeting rooms, dining areas, supportive service offices, training rooms, and controlled access to the property. The building is located within the highly walkable Midtown neighborhood, nearby the Houston METRO light rail system, giving residents easy access to all major employment and education hubs throughout the city.
Residents of the project will be able to remain housed at the project as long as needed, with 75% of residents at other Temenos and Bread of Life supportive housing projects remaining for three years or more. Typically, residents only leave when they move on to standard apartment living independent of services. Virtually no one leaves permanent supportive housing and goes back to homelessness. Permanent supportive housing has been a key component of Houston’s successful and nationally renowned approach to addressing homelessness.
The project will meet the U.S. Department of Environmental Protection’s Energy Star Certification for energy efficiency and utilize Energy Star-rated electric devices and other measures to minimize fossil fuel usage. The project will also target National Green Building Standard certification to ensure it meets environmentally sustainable and energy-efficient standards.
*all impacts projected as of project closing date
“The City of Houston Department of Housing and Community Development is grateful that Bread of Life and Temenos CDC are partnering together to develop the KnowlesRowland House. There is tremendous need for more Permanent Supportive Housing to provide stable home environments for those experiencing homelessness in the City of Houston”
RYAN BIBBS MULTIFAMILY DIVISION MANAGER THE CITY OF HOUSTON HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT