HOUSTON, Oct. 14, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bread of Life, Inc. (BOL) announces the grand opening of the Knowles-Rowland House, a 31-unit permanent supportive housing development at 2019 Crawford St. in Midtown Houston. The $13.96 million project converts a fire-damaged former gymnasium and recreation center into permanent homes for individuals exiting chronic homelessness. Temenos Community Development Corporation, a Bread of Life sister organization, will provide on-site supportive services. Residents begin moving in Nov. 1, 2026.

The invitation-only ribbon cutting was held Oct. 13, 2026 in the sanctuary at St. John’s Downtown, the church Pastors Rudy and Juanita Rasmus founded alongside Bread of Life in 1992. Tina Knowles, Beyoncé Knowles-Carter and Kelly Rowland spoke. Beyoncé was joined by her daughters Blue Ivy Carter and Rumi Carter, who helped cut the ribbon.

“I have so many memories here, and I want to thank Juanita and Rudy because your prayers have held us up,” Knowles-Carter said. “This church was our foundation. I was baptized right here. I made the choice on my own to be baptized because I felt the spirit here, and I feel the spirit right now.”

The original Knowles-Rowland Center for Youth was built on this site in 1999 with support from Tina Knowles, Beyoncé Knowles-Carter, Kelly Rowland and Mathew Knowles. For more than two decades it served as a youth summer camp, a senior community center and an overnight shelter for people experiencing homelessness. A fire in March 2021 ended that chapter, and the building stored disaster relief supplies until redevelopment began in 2023.

“I’m so full because this is full circle,” said Tina Knowles. “Juanita and Rudy are the biggest visionaries I’ve seen in my life. Nothing is too big of a vision for them. Look what they’ve done, and look what they’ve accomplished.”

“In 1992 all we had to offer was a hot meal in the sanctuary, and for a long while that was enough to keep somebody going one more day,” said Pastor Rudy Rasmus, Co-Founder, Bread of Life, Inc. “Today we are handing over keys. This building has already lived two lives. It was a gym full of young people, and then a warehouse after the fire, and now 31 neighbors who have been living on the edge in this city have an address of their own.”

What the Building Offers

The three-story, 18,900-square-foot building contains 31 single-room occupancy apartments, including 16 designed for people with mobility and sensory needs, plus common areas for residents. Each unit is fully subsidized through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Project-Based Voucher program, administered locally by Housing Alliance HTX. The building sits in walkable Midtown near the METRO light rail, giving residents direct access to employment, education, health care and other essential services.

Temenos CDC staff will be on-site 24 hours a day, providing case management, benefits enrollment and maintenance, mental health counseling, substance use treatment, transportation assistance, life skills training, and access to fresh and shelf-stable food.

“A shelter bed asks you to leave in the morning,” said Madelyn Wages, Temenos Director of Operations. “A lease does not, and that one difference is what makes everything else possible. Once a person knows where they are sleeping next month, they can start keeping a counseling appointment, or sorting out their benefits, or holding down a job.”

Public and Private Partners

U.S. Congressman Christian Menefee, Houston Mayor John Whitmire, Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis and Houston City Councilmember Carolyn Shabazz also addressed guests.

“Every Houstonian deserves a safe place to call home and the opportunity to build a better future,” said Menefee. “The opening of the Knowles-Rowland House is an exciting step forward in making that a reality. These 31 new homes will provide stability, dignity, and critical support services to Houstonians who need them most. I’m incredibly grateful to Bread of Life, St. John’s Downtown Church, and everyone who helped bring this project to life. This is what investing in our communities looks like, and I’m proud to celebrate this incredible milestone right here in Houston.”

“As Mayor of Houston, I commend all the stakeholders whose collaboration have made possible the opening of the Knowles-Rowland House today,” said Whitmire. “The Knowles-Rowland House is an important addition to Houston’s ongoing efforts to address homelessness and affordable housing. By providing our unhoused population with services like case management and life skills and, most of all, with this housing we reach one more step in the right direction for these individuals to achieve stability and independence.”

“Housing is a human right, and the Knowles-Rowland House puts that belief into practice,” said Ellis. “Permanent supportive housing projects like this are critical because they help break the cycle of chronic homelessness. These 31 homes will give our neighbors a stable foundation and access to counseling, case management, job and life skills training, and other support to stay housed and move forward. I’m proud that we put more than $7 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds to work to help make this project a reality and build lasting stability for Harris County residents.”

The $13.96 million development was financed through a coalition of public and private partners:

  • Harris County Housing Finance Corporation, after funding approval from Harris County Commissioners Court
  • B1 Bank
  • AIC CEI-Boulos Opportunity Fund, a joint venture between CEI-Boulos Capital Management and Allivate Impact Capital®
  • Rice Management Company
  • An Affordable Housing Program grant from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas, awarded through member institution Home Bank
  • Project-Based Voucher rental subsidy from HUD, administered by Housing Alliance HTX

“The project shows what can happen when mission-driven organizations and purpose-driven capital come together with a shared vision. Knowles-Rowland House represents much more than a housing development. It is a foundation for stability, hope, and an opportunity for individuals to rebuild their lives with dignity and support. At Allivate, we proudly invest in solutions that elevate communities, alleviate poverty, and create lasting pathways to opportunity,” said Noelle St. Clair Lentz, CEO, Allivate Impact Capital®.

For Pastor Juanita Rasmus, the work is personal. “Rudy and I both came from families where our grandparents provided housing for those who would have been unhoused,” she said. “To those who’ve been given significant titles in our state and our city government: thank you for not forgetting the people that could have been me.”

View the full livestream of the event published on the Bread of Life Inc. YouTube.

About Bread of Life, Inc.
Bread of Life, Inc. is a Houston-based nonprofit organization founded by Pastors Juanita and Rudy Rasmus in 1992, helping underserved individuals and families across the Houston region. Through programs focused on health access, housing and hunger relief, the organization helps vulnerable Houstonians achieve greater stability and self-sufficiency. Bread of Life also supports communities through disaster preparation, relief and recovery. Learn more at www.breadoflifeinc.org and on LinkedIn.

About Temenos CDC
Temenos Community Development Corporation was founded following the devastation and loss caused by Hurricane Katrina. Its mission is to provide affordable housing opportunities, supportive services and employment resources to low- to extremely low-income persons on their journey to wholeness. www.temenoscdc.org

Media Contact:
Becky Myers
MyHart Communications
becky@myhartcomm.com
281-844-2725


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