HOUSTON (May 16, 2025) – Covenant House Texas, the 41-year-old, Montrose-based nonprofit that provides housing and support services to youth experiencing homelessness, today celebrated the opening of its new state-of-the-art campus on Lovett Boulevard. The new 104,000-square-foot building enables the organization to serve 50% more at-risk youth seeking shelter and access to resources to help them build independent lives away from the streets. The new campus is named “The Jamey Rootes Campus” in honor of the former Houston Texans president and longtime leadership volunteer for Covenant House Texas, who passed away in 2022.

“The transformation of this corner lot in the heart of Montrose is nothing short of breathtaking, especially when you think about the impact it will have in helping countless youth experiencing homelessness to find their pathway to independence and a brighter future,” said Anthony Flynn, Covenant House Texas chief executive officer. “Making this transformative building possible required a lot of generous hearts and an innovative and dedicated team. We are overwhelmed with gratitude for the support of so many individuals, foundations, corporations and government partners who made it possible.”

Designed by architecture, design and planning firm Gensler, the new four-story building allows Covenant House Texas to provide sleeping accommodation for up to 150 youth nightly. The facility was thoughtfully designed so that Covenant House staff and volunteers can effectively deliver the many support services needed to help Covenant House residents, ages 18 – 24, as they recover from the trauma of homelessness and trafficking and work toward a new, independent future. Interior elements such as soft materials, layered textures, wood tones and warm colors are meant to create a nurturing and calming environment, while large windows create bright spaces and views of outdoor greenery, which is known to benefit mental well-being.

With all of Covenant House Texas’ wraparound services located within one facility, youth can access a variety of supports on their journey to independence with the comfort of having a safe place to reside. Building features such as an expanded, updated clinic space will allow the organization’s clinical staff to provide physical and behavioral health care to more youth. Other distinct features such as a digital resources library, computer lab, music studio, fitness center, chapel and outdoor green spaces for gathering are part of Covenant House’s holistic approach that provides youth with a home-like atmosphere, a sense of community and the opportunity to develop skills and goals for a brighter future. Purpose-built for the youth it serves, the new Covenant House Texas facilities offer built-in flexibility to meet changing needs. For example, an indoor basketball court can quickly be set up with cots for emergency overnight stays, such as during extreme weather events.

“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 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.”

The new facility occupies the site of the organization’s original headquarters, an aging two-story house that was demolished in 2022. Harvey Cleary Builders built the innovative campus, with Pin Oak Interests serving as project manager.

A faith-based organization, Covenant House Texas offers an extensive continuum-of-care model for youth that includes mental health and substance abuse counseling, educational and vocational training, transitional and permanent living programs, street outreach and prevention, pastoral ministry, parenting classes and other services.  The organization is committed to giving homeless youth a safe haven, absolute respect, unconditional love, and a path to lasting independence.

Flynn said the new Covenant House Texas campus was funded through a public-private partnership, adding that investments by the City of Houston and Harris County, as well as gifts from private foundations, corporations and individual donors to the nonprofit’s “Building for Life” capital campaign, helped the organization raise over $52,000,000 of the $55,000,000 campaign budget.

Covenant House Texas leadership, joined by elected officials, and Covenant House youth residents participated in the grand opening ceremony to celebrate the completion of the new building and campus.

For more information about Covenant House Texas and its services or to make a donation, visit covenanthousetx.org
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Covenant House Texas (CHT) is a faith-based organization committed to giving homeless youth a safe haven, absolute respect, unconditional love, and a path to lasting independence. In partnership with the community, we are the voice for homeless youth. For more than 40 years, CHT has provided a safe haven 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, short-term, transitional and permanent residential programs, street outreach and prevention, faith-based pastoral care and parenting classes in addition to providing the basic necessities of food, clothing, medical care and safe shelter from the streets for youth in crisis.  For more information, covenanthousetx.org.