The 41-year-old, Montrose-based nonprofit provides housing and support services to youth experiencing homelessness, and according to a May 16 news release, the new state-of-the-art campus on Lovett Boulevard will enable the organization to serve 50% more at-risk youth seeking shelter and access to resources.
About the project
The new four-story building allows Covenant House to provide sleeping accommodations for up to 150 youth per night, ranging from ages 18 to 24.
The center is designed to help youth recover from the trauma of homelessness and trafficking. Designed by Houston-based architecture firm Gensler, the new campus includes an expanded, updated clinic to provide physical and behavioral health care, as well as additional features such as:
- A digital resources library
- A computer lab
- A music studio
- A fitness center
- A chapel
- An outdoor green space
The new campus, situated on the site of the organization's original headquarters, will be named The Jamey Rootes Campus after former Houston Texans president Jamey Rootes, who volunteered at Covenant House and died in 2022.
According to the release, the Lovett Boulevard campus expansion was funded through a public-private partnership, along with investments by the City of Houston and Harris County. Additional gifts from private foundations, corporations and individual donors raised over $52 million of the $55 million campaign budget.
“This new campus expands Covenant House Texas’ capabilities and will exceed their needs in addressing youth homelessness in Houston,” said Jay Chokshi, senior associate design manager for Houston-based architecture firm Gensler. “By providing a unified space where all their services are interconnected, Covenant House Texas now has the opportunity to work more efficiently and have the flexibility to accomplish their mission.”
Covenant House Texas also appointed a new CEO in May. Anthony Flynn recently served as CEO of WorkFaith, a nonprofit organization centered on faith-based training and coaching.
According to an April 29 news release, he also has a personal connection to the work of Covenant House as he and his mother went without stable housing during his childhood.
He also holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Memphis and a Master of Arts in Religion from Memphis Theological Seminary.
“It is an incredible honor to join Covenant House Texas and lead an organization that is so thoughtfully committed to helping youth experiencing homelessness find their own path to lasting independence,” Flynn said in the release. “As we look to the future, I’m excited to build on the strong foundation already in place and help guide Covenant House Texas into its next phase of growth, impact and transformative care.”
- 1111 Lovett Blvd., Houston
- www.covenenathousetx.org
