Beyoncé and Kelly Rowland are once again giving back to their hometown of Houston.
The Destiny’s Child icons are putting their money where their heart is by backing the Knowles-Rowland House. It is an $8.4 million permanent supportive housing development that is nearing completion and expected to open in downtown Houston in 2026. The 31-unit complex will provide stable housing and wraparound services for individuals experiencing homelessness.
What It Means To Them
The project carries deep roots to both women. BET reports that the building was originally constructed in 1999 as the Knowles-Rowland Center for Youth. It was funded with money generated from Destiny’s Child’s first hit single. Named after the families of Beyoncé and Rowland, the facility served as a gymnasium and youth community space connected to St. John’s Downtown Church, where both singers were longtime members.
The building suffered significant setbacks over the years, including damage from Hurricane Harvey in 2017, and a devastating fire in 2021. The building was unused following those tragedies.
Now, the redevelopment will feature 31 supportive housing units, including 16 fully accessible apartments designed for residents with mobility or sensory impairments.
Residents will also have access to a number of services. This includes case management, mental health counseling, substance abuse treatment, life-skills training, and nutrition assistance. All services are provided thanks to a partnership with Temenos Community Development Corporation.
Tina Knowles, Beyoncé’s mother, recently shared a sneak peek of one of the apartments on social media.
The 35-time Grammy winner was born and raised in Houston. Her Destiny Child’s group mate was born in Atlanta, but often references to Houston as the city that made the person she is today.
“It was a city that grew me up, Kelly Rowland said in an interview with AFROTECH. “I always say Atlanta born me. Houston raised me with Southern values. Houston raised me to be proud of my Blackness as well.”