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New Hope Housing and Star of Hope’s Cornerstone Community
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Please provide a summary description of the project. ULI will use this description for publication. Please avoid predictions ("will be a gathering place for years to come") and stick to fact. This might touch very briefly on the following, which you will have a chance to describe later in more detail:

  • Size
  • Number of people served
  • History
  • Project goals
  • Physical description
  • Major features/amenities
  • Relationship to the community

Cornerstone Community represents an innovative partnership between two independent Houston nonprofits, New Hope Housing (NHH) and Star of Hope (SOH). A 48-acre cutting-edge, master-planned site, Cornerstone Community is a collaborative campus of housing and social services for homeless and at-risk families. The overarching goal is to lift families from generational poverty through equitable access to life-enhancing opportunities.

 

Cornerstone Community was spearheaded by SOH to expand its services within Houston and address recidivism among its clients. The organization is a Christ-centered nonprofit operating for over 110 years. SOH is dedicated to meeting the needs of homeless men, women and children. Cornerstone Community includes SOH’s Women & Family Development Center, with emergency care, transitional housing and long-term education and employment opportunities, plus a 2.5-acre park and chapel. To complete their campus vision, SOH invited NHH to purchase 7 acres and develop permanent affordable housing.

 

Since 1993, NHH has been committed to providing life-stabilizing, affordable, permanent Housing + Services for people on very limited incomes. In 2013, NHH expanded its historical mission beyond single room occupancy (SRO) housing for individuals to respond to the plight of homeless families. In collaboration with SOH, the expansion of NHH’s mission to serve families was first seen at Cornerstone Community. The NHH Reed development is an affordable property of 187 fully-furnished apartment homes of 1, 2 and 3 bedrooms. Wrap-around supportive services are integrated in the home environment.  

 

This campus serves ~1,200 people/day. It provides the necessary infrastructure for a sustainable, flourishing life and a complete community.

Please provide a summary description of the program. Please avoid predictions ("will transform the community") and stick to facts. This description might touch very briefly on the following, which you will have a chance to describe later in more detail:

  • Scope
  • Number of people served
  • History and impetus for the program
  • Goals
  • Major outcomes, results, or impact
  • Major challenges overcome
  • Relationship to the community and community engagement
Describe the history of the land and key milestones in the development of the project.
Cornerstone Community is located on the largest swath of undeveloped land inside Houston’s Beltway 8, south of Texas Medical Center and NRG Stadium. It is designed to resemble a junior college campus, though it can be likened to a small town. SOH’s vision for Cornerstone Community addresses lack of affordable housing and recidivism among its clients. After clients graduated from a SOH program, they had trouble finding affordable housing and continued to need access to SOH services. That difficulty sometimes resulted in a return to homelessness. As a sustainable solution, SOH’s former Women and Family Emergency Shelter (previously located near downtown Houston) and its Transitional Living Center (previously located near Texas Medical Center) were closed, sold and consolidated to this campus, becoming the Women & Family Development Center.

In a marvelous confluence of interests, as SOH was unveiling plans for Cornerstone Community, NHH’s Board was planning the expansion of its housing to new geographic and demographic markets. The two organizations joined forces. Prior to, they had a long history of working together, with many SOH clients living at a NHH SRO. With NHH Reed apartments, SOH family clients could transition to independent living and financial stability.

SOH broke ground 3/1/16 on its 41-acres. They developed the infrastructure, including utilities and roadways. NHH began construction 10/12/16. It was intentional to have SOH operating its facility by 8/31/17 prior to NHH Reed opening by 5/30/18. The timeline allowed graduates of SOH’s transitional living program to immediately move to Reed across the street.
Describe the history of the program and the relevant history of the places the program impacts. Describe key milestones in the development of the project.
Describe the physical building or space in more detail. Describe the sub-spaces and their relationship to one another.
SOH’s Development Center provides 130 family units, 30 single women units and 60 residential dormitory units. Its operations include separate, security controlled intake areas for families and singles. Their high-tech security room oversees the entire campus. Their space features a volunteers’ center; educational center with classrooms; personal development and computer center; library; salon; counseling center; case management offices; resident services center; and health clinic. Parents receive emergency assistance and/or attend long-term programs. Their children enjoy the children’s building with accredited educational programming and a playground and basketball court plus access to the 2.5-acre campus park. It has a commercial kitchen and multi-use cafeteria that can serve as community center and double as emergency storm shelter for 600 more people. There is a donation center and no-fee clothing store for residents, and 325-seat chapel for non-denominal services and program graduations.

NHH Reed offers 187 rental apartments of 1- 2- and 3-bedrooms. The fully-furnished homes have a full kitchen and washer/dryer. Reed is a 3-story mid-rise surrounding a courtyard with playground, BBQ grills and picnic tables. Resident amenities include 18,000 SF of shared living space with business center, 3 libraries, life skills training room, child enrichment room, case management offices, teen room, and learning center for robust after-school and summer programs plus art and culture activities. Reed has an onsite market with food and household essentials. In partnership with Healthcare for the Homeless, a Federally Qualified Health Clinic, a clinic is being built out for Reed residents and will open mid-2021.
Please indicate the total area of the site.
What percent of the total project area is open to the public regularly?
If multiple developers, please separate their names with a semicolon. Example: City of Springfield Redevelopment Authority; Springfield Investors I
New Hope Housing Inc.; Star of Hope Mission
Please indicate the owner(s) if they are not the same as the developer(s). If multiple owners, please separate their names with a semicolon.
New Hope Housing Inc.; Star of Hope Mission
If multiple primary designers, please separate their names with a semicolon. Example: Best Studio; Buildings + Buildings
GSMA, Inc.; Kirksey Architecture
If multiple primary creators, please separate their names with a semicolon. Example: City Redevelopment Authority; Community Development Partners
If multiple primary implementers, please separate their names with a semicolon. Example: City Redevelopment Authority; Community Development Partners
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New Hope Housing and Star of Hope’s Cornerstone Community

Category

Project > Open - All Project Types

Winner Status

  • Finalist
  • Winner