* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. [00:00:18] WHAT A GREAT DAY, HUH? IT'S, UH, A DAY OF JOY. [Press Conference: “Covenant House Groundbreaking”] A DAY OF THANKSGIVING. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER ELLIS. HATE TO START OUT ON A BAD NOTE, BUT I HAVE A FIXED, JUST A SICK FEELING IN MY STOMACH BECAUSE, UH, THE BOARD CHAIR MIKE HOLLAND, UH, FELL ILL LAST NIGHT, AND HE CANNOT MAKE IT TODAY. HE SHOULD BE STANDING RIGHT HERE WHERE I AM STANDING. MIKE IS AN INCREDIBLE PERSON IN SO MANY WAYS AS THE COO OF MERRICK BROTHERS. HE HAS BEEN AN INCREDIBLE LEADER TO US. HE HAS JUST VAST CONSTRUCTION KNOWLEDGE, AND ASIDE FROM THE FACT THAT MIKE WAS THE, UH, CHAIR HERE, WE WOULD NOT BE HERE TODAY. THERE WOULD STILL BE OLD BUILDINGS ACROSS THE STREET. SO I KNOW MIKE'S WIFE HERE. SUSAN. SUSAN, PLEASE STAND UP. LET'S GIVE HER A ROUND OF APPLAUSE AND SHE CAN TAKE THAT BACK TO MIKE. SO, WELCOME AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING ON THIS VERY SPECIAL DAY FOR COVENANT HOUSE AND FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON. TODAY WE CELEBRATE. WE CELEBRATE THE START OF A PROJECT THAT REPRESENTS AN ONGOING PUBLIC AND PRIVATE INVESTMENT IN THE LIVES OF YOUNG PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY. THE PARTNERSHIPS FORMED OVER THE LAST 40 YEARS STRENGTHENED UPON CONCEPTION OF THIS PROJECT. AND THOSE FRESHLY MINTED ARE NOT ONLY GOING TO BUILD YOUNG LIVES, BUT ARE STRENGTHENING THIS COMMUNITY AND ITS RESIDENTS FOR DECADES. WE CELEBRATE THE MOST SIGNIFICANT TRANSFORMATION IN THE HISTORY OF COVENANT HOUSE, TEXAS. TODAY, WE BREAK GROUND SO AS TO ESTABLISH THE BEACON OF HOPE. THIS CORNER HAS REPRESENTED SINCE 1983. WE GATHER THIS MORNING TO MARK THE BEGINNING OF ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS IN HOUSTON, WHERE THIS WILL NOT ONLY BE A STATE OF THE ART DWELLING, BUT A HOME WHERE YOUNG PEOPLE 18 TO 24 CAN ARRIVE WITH WHAT THEY THINK IS NOTHING BUT WILL DISCOVER THAT AT THEIR HANDS ARE LIMITLESS OPPORTUNITIES AND HOPE FOR THEIR BRIGHT FUTURES ACROSS THE STREET WILL STAND A FACILITY BUILT TO INTERCEPT HOMELESSNESS AT ITS FIRST OCCURRENCE, NOT JUST BY SHELTERING YOUTH, BUT BY OFFERING A COMPLETE CONTINUUM OF SUPPORT SERVICES NEEDED TO LEARN TO LIVE STABLE, SELF-SUFFICIENT LIVES AS ADULTS. WE'RE SO GRATEFUL TO BE JOINED THIS MORNING BY, UH, SEVERAL PUBLIC OFFICIALS, MAYOR SYLVESTER TURNER CITY, COUNCILMAN ABBY CAYMAN AND HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONER RODNEY ELLIS AND MANY OTHERS. MOMENTARILY YOU WILL HEAR FROM SEVERAL OF THESE DIGNITARIES WHO HAVE ADVOCATED FOR THE BUILDING OF LIFE, BUILDING FOUR LIFE PROJECT. BUT FIRST, WE'D LIKE TO GIVE, UH, THANKS TO THE, UH, PERSON WHO'S MOST RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS, AND THAT'S OUR LORD AND SAVIOR. OKAY, LET'S PRAY. THE PSALMIST SAID, IT IS GOOD TO GIVE THANKS TO THE LORD. IT IS GOOD TO SING PRAISE TO HIS NAME. WE ARE HERE TODAY TO BE SO THANKFUL TO, THANKFUL TO GOD, THANKFUL TO THE PUBLIC OFFICIALS OF THE CITY AND COUNTY WHO HAVE, UH, BEEN FORWARD LOOKING, COMPASSIONATE AND INTELLIGENT IN THEIR ALLOCATION OF FUNDS. AND WE THANK THEM FOR THAT. WE'RE HERE TO THANK THE, THANK GOD FOR BLESSING THE CHT LEADERSHIP, LESLIE AND FELICIA, AND THE BOARD. WE'RE HERE TO THANK THE STAFF AND, AND GOD'S BLESSING ON THEM, THAT THEY HAVE BEEN RELENTLESS IN THEIR HELP TO THESE YOUTH. WE'RE HERE TO THANK GOD FOR BRINGING FORTH DONORS WHO ARE COMMITTED FROM FOUNDATIONS AND PRIVATE INDIVIDUALS WHO GIVE SACRIFICIALLY, AND WE ASK GOD'S BLESSING ON THEM, BUT MOSTLY LORD, UH, WE'RE HERE TO THANK YOU FOR BLESSING THESE KIDS WITH A NEW PLACE TO STAY, A PLACE TO FLOURISH, A PLACE TO, UH, GARNER HOPE, AND WE ASK THAT YOU CONTINUE YOUR BLESSING ON THEM. AFTER THIS, UH, PROJECT IS FINISHED, LORD, PLEASE BEST ALL THOSE WHO HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH THIS JOYOUS DAY IN WHICH WE'RE CELEBRATING THE START OF SOMETHING GREAT. UH, WE, WE THANK, UH, EVERYONE FROM THE SMALLEST CONTRIBUTION TO THE LARGEST CONTRIBUTION. LORD, WE JUST THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING AND NEVER LET US LOSE SIGHT THAT DESPITE ALL THE EFFORTS OF EVERYONE HERE TODAY, [00:05:01] THAT IT IS YOU WHO BRINGS THIS ABOUT AND WE GIVE YOU ALL THE GLORY. AMEN. OKAY. BUILDING FOR LIFE KIDS, UH, PROJECT HAS CERTAINLY BEEN BLESSED IN MANY WAYS. WE SET OUT TO COMPLETE THIS CAMPUS REBUILD WITH NO KNOWLEDGE OF A PANDEMIC THAT WOULD FRAME OUR LIVES IN MANY WAYS, THE GENEROUS SUPPORT FROM BOTH PRIVATE AND PUBLIC DONORS, THAT IS OVER A HUNDRED THOU, A HUNDRED INDIVIDUALS, CORPORATIONS, AND FOUNDATIONS, AS WELL AS THE LEADING INVESTMENTS OF THE CITY AND COUNTY, HAVE HELPED US RAISE OVER $41 MILLION TO DATE. I THINK THAT DESERVES A APPLAUSE. I'M PROUD TO SAY THAT THE TOP CONTRIBUTOR TO DATE IS THE CITY OF HOUSTON. THE CITY OF HOUSTON, VALUED STAFF AND LEADERSHIP HAVE JOINED HANDS WITH US TO OVERCOME NUMEROUS OBSTACLES ALONG OUR PATH. PLEASE JOIN ME IN WELCOMING KEITH BYNUM, DIRECTOR OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, WHO WILL INTRODUCE OUR MAYOR, SYLVESTER TURNER. KEITH, THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING. I WANT TO THANK ALL PRESIDENT AND CONGRATULATE COVENANT HOUSE, LESLIE, AND THE ENTIRE CHT STAFF AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS ON THIS HUGE MILESTONE. THE HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT IS PROUD TO PARTNER WITH ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS, AS COVENANT HOUSE TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR OUR YOUTH. OF COURSE, NONE OF THIS WOULD BE POSSIBLE WITHOUT THE LEADERSHIP OF OUR MAYOR, SYLVESTER TURNER. SINCE HE TOOK OFFICE, THERE HAS BEEN A 30%, A 30% REDUCTION IN OVERALL HOMELESSNESS AND A 61% REDUCTION IN YOUTH HOMELESSNESS. ALTHOUGH, THANK YOU. ALTHOUGH MUCH SUCCESS HAS BEEN MADE THROUGHOUT OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH COVENANT HOUSE, WE ARE NOT DONE YET. YOUNG ADULTS UNFORTUNATELY FALL INTO HOMELESSNESS, UH, EACH AND EVERY DAY. UH, HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT IS COMMITTED TO REDUCING HOMELESSNESS IN THIS CITY AND CONTINUE TO FLOURISH OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH COVENANT HOUSE. TO SHARE MORE ABOUT THE CITY'S COMMITMENT AND, UH, ON THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT AND OTHERS, UH, PLEASE JOIN ME IN CONGRATULATING AND SUPPORTING AND WELCOMING. AND, UH, I WOULD ASK FOR A STANDING OVATION, BUT HE DOESN'T NEED THAT YET. , LET ME WELCOME MY MAYOR, MAYOR SYLVESTER TURNER. LET ME THANK DIRECTOR BY, HE DIDN'T HAVE TO SAY, SAY ALL OF THAT. HE ALREADY HAS THE JOB, SO, UH, , YOU KNOW, BUT I . BUT LOOK, I, I DO WANT TO, I WANT TO THANK HIM AND I WANT TO THANK THE ENTIRE TEAM FROM THE HOUSING COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT. IT IS A TEAM, UH, EFFORT. AND, UH, I STAND HERE. THEY DO THE WORK, AND SO I REALLY WANT TO THANK THEM. SO, DIRECTOR BYNUM, THANK YOU ON BEHALF OF YOUR ENTIRE DEPARTMENT. UM, LEMME JUST START OFF BY SAYING, UM, UH, SUSAN, PLEASE EXTEND OUR BEST WISHES, UH, TO MIKE. UM, AND THOUGH HE'S NOT, UH, PHYSICALLY PRESENT, HE IS PRESENT, UH, BECAUSE THIS WORK IS TAKING PLACE, UM, BECAUSE OF HIS LEADERSHIP. SO WE REALLY APPRECIATE HIM, APPRECIATE YOU AS WELL. UH, TWO LESLIE, WE WERE JUST TOGETHER, UH, AT CITY HALL ON TUESDAY. UM, AND I THINK IT WAS COUNCIL MEMBER CAMAN ALCORN, WHO PRESENTED, UH, YOU ALL, UH, TO CITY COUNCIL FOR THE PROCLAMATION. SO IT'S GOOD TO BE WITH YOU, UH, TODAY. THIS IS A BEAUTIFUL, A BEAUTIFUL DAY, UH, FOR, FOR SO MANY, MANY REASONS. UM, AND LEMME JUST SAY, PRAYER IS ALWAYS IN ORDER, UH, BECAUSE IT ENABLES US TO DO EVERYTHING. UH, AND I WILL START OFF BY SAYING THAT, UM, IT'S A BEAUTIFUL DAY. WE ARE BUILDING FOR A LIFE, UH, BUT WE ARE BUILDING A BETTER FUTURE FOR THIS CITY. I DO WANT TO, UH, THANK, UM, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ABBY CAYMAN FOR HER LEADERSHIP COUNCIL MEMBER DAVID ROBINSON, UH, WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON, WHO, AND THIS IS ONE OF HIS PASSIONS AS WELL. AND THE COUNTY, UM, AND COMMISSIONER RODNEY ELLIS AND HARRIS COUNTY HAS JUST, THEY HAVE BEEN AN INCREDIBLE PARTY. PLEASE GIVE IT UP TO THE COUNTY AS WELL. LOOK, UM, I, I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH FOR THE PARTNERSHIP THAT'S TAKEN PLACE. I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH FOR THE WORK THAT COVENANT HOUSE HAS DONE DOING AND CONTINUES TO DO TO DO, UH, YOUTH ARE OUR FUTURE. AND SADLY, NOT ALL YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE THE PLEASURE OF LEADING A LIFE FREE OF DRUG STRUGGLES OR HAVING TO SUPPORT SYSTEMS TO HELP THEM THROUGH THEIR STRUGGLES. UH, THIS IS WHY ORGANIZATIONS LIKE COVENANT HOUSE, UH, TEXAS ARE SO IMPORTANT AND WHY THE CITY OF HOUSTON IS PROUD TO SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONS [00:10:01] LIKE COVENANT HOUSE, TEXAS, AND HARRIS COUNTY IN NURTURING THOSE WHO FIND THEMSELVES IN NEED. COVENANT HOUSE HAS BEEN A MAINSTAY IN THE COMMUNITY AND HAS PROVIDED SHELTER FOR HOMELESS ABUSE AND ABUNDANT YOUTH FROM THE AGES OF 18 TO 24 FOR OVER 38 YEARS. PLEASE GIVE IT UP TO COME TO THE HOUSE ONE MORE TIME. THE CITY PROUDLY CONTRIBUTED $6.7 MILLION IN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT AND COVID-19 FUNDS TO REDEVELOP THE BUILDING FOR LIFE, UH, CAMPUS. THE PROPERTY, UM, ONCE COMPLETE WILL PROVIDE AN UPDATED SHELTER, MEDICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH CLINICS AND SAFER HOUSING TO ACCOMMODATE THE YOUTH. THE CAMPUS I HERE WILL ALSO FEATURE A CHAPEL, LARGE COMMERCIAL KITCHEN AND CAFETERIA CAREER CENTER, OUTDOOR COURT, COURTYARD, RECREATIONAL FACILITIES, ROOMS DEDICATED TO ART AND MUSIC, A LIBRARY, AND SO MUCH MORE. BUT WHAT IS EVEN MORE IS THAT THIS FACILITY WILL INCLUDE A WHOLE LOT OF LOVE AND A LOT OF FOLK WHO CARE. UH, AND THOSE ARE THE INTANGIBLES THAT MAKE A, A, MAKE A HUGE, HUGE DIFFERENCE. UH, ONCE COMPLETE, THIS PROJECT WILL INCREASE THE NUMBER OF SERVICES NEEDED FOR THE GROWING POPULATION OF YOUTH EXPERIENCING HOMELESS, HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND OTHER STRUGGLES. NO ONE, LET ALONE YOUNG PEOPLE SHOULD BE LIVING THROUGH TRANSFORMING THE LIVES OF YOUNG ADULTS. EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS PRODUCES A LIFETIME OF BENEFITS, NOT ONLY FOR THE YOUTH THEMSELVES, BUT FOR OUR ENTIRE CITY. REDUCING HOMELESSNESS IS AN INITIATIVE VERY DEAR TO MY HEART, AND SO MANY OF YOU WHO ARE HERE AND THOSE WHO ARE NOT HERE. AND UNDER OUR ADMINISTRATION AND THE LEADERSHIP THAT EXISTS AND WORKING WITH MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL, WORKING WITH HARRIS COUNTY, MORE THAN 100 THOU, 100 AGENCIES OF THE WAY HOME, THE CITY HAS PERMANENTLY HOUSED MORE THAN 21,000 INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS. AND WE HAVE REDUCED OVERALL HOMELESSNESS BY 30%. THE CITY OF HOUSTON, THE CITY OF HOUSTON, IS LEADING THE NATION IN REDUCING HOMELESSNESS. AND WE WERE RECOGNIZED BY BLOOMBERG ASSOCIATES AS ONE OF THE TOP TWO CITIES IN THE WORLD WITH THE MOST EFFECTIVE HOMELESS RESPONSE SYSTEMS. BUT AGAIN, THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN WITHOUT PARTNERSHIPS. THERE HAS BEEN A 61% REDUCTION IN YOUTH HOMELESSNESS. AND COVENANT HOUSE IS A LEADER, NOT ONLY IN OUR CITY, BUT OUR STATE AND OUR NATION WHEN IT COMES TO YOUTH HOMELESSNESS, NO MATTER YOUTH, RACE, COLOR, FAITH, CREED, OR SEXUAL ORIENTATION, COVENANT HOUSES THERE FOR THEM. THANK YOU TO THE LEADERSHIP OF COVENANT HOUSE, TEXAS, HARRIS COUNTY DISTRICT C COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN, ALL OF OUR CITY COUNCIL PARTNERS, DAVID ROBINSON, AND THE MANY, MANY OTHERS, AND ALL OF YOU WHO WORK TIRELESSLY TO ENSURE OUR YOUTH HAVE A SAFE, SUPPORTIVE PLACE TO GO FOR ASSISTANCE IN THEIR GREATEST TIME OF NEED. I WANNA THANK THE BUSINESS LEADERS AND THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, UH, FOR STEPPING IN. I WANNA THANK THOSE WHO HAVE SLEPT OUTSIDE OVERNIGHT, UH, IN MAKING THINGS HAPPEN, AND REALLY APPRECIATE THAT. AND AGAIN, I WANT TO THANK DIRECTOR KEITH BIDEN AND THE HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT WHO WORK DAILY TO CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR HOUSTON HOUSTONIANS OF ALL AGES TO HAVE ACCESS TO SAFE HOMES WHERE THEY CAN THRIVE. SUPPORTING COVENANT HOUSE IS CRITICAL TO OUR CONTINUED SUCCESS. IT IS CRITICAL TO SUSTAINING THE CITY'S HEALTH, SAFETY, AND ECONOMIC VITALITY FOR GENERATIONS TO COME. AND LASTLY, I'LL CONCLUDE BY SOMETHING THAT SOMEONE ELSE SAID, THAT CHILDREN ARE MESSAGES THAT WE SEND INTO THE FUTURE TO A WORLD THAT WE OURSELVES MAY NEVER SEE. WHAT SORT OF MESSAGE SHALL WE SEND OUR HOPE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON? WE ARE SENDING A MESSAGE THAT NO CHILD, IRRESPECTIVE OF THEIR STATUS, SHOULD BE LIVING ON THE STREETS IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. THEY DESERVE A HOME, AND THEY DESERVE A HOME WITH A WHOLE LOT OF LOVE. AND WHERE CITY OF HOUSTON IS SAYING, THIS IS WHAT'S DEFINES WHO WE ARE BECAUSE THIS REPRESENTS OUR VALUES. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU, MAYOR. WE COULD NOT DO THIS WITHOUT YOU. AND I MEAN THAT YOU HAVE SOME GREAT FIELD GENERALS IN THE FIELD, THOUGH. AND, UH, I WANNA POINT OUT AT LEAST ONE, ANDY, IF YOU WOULD JUST WAIVE, YOU NEVER TAKE ANY CREDIT FOR ANYTHING. YOU DO SUCH A GREAT JOB. IF ANNA MARTINEZ IS HERE, ANNA, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND. THOSE FOLKS GET THINGS DONE. AND THANK YOU MAYOR FOR WHAT ALLOWING THEM TO DO THAT. UH, OUR CITY COUNCIL [00:15:01] MEMBER, ABBY CAYMAN, HAS LIKEWISE ADVANCED FOR OUR MISSION ON THIS JOURNEY TOWARDS OUR BUILDING FOR LIFE CAMPAIGN. SHE JOINS US TODAY TO SHARE A FEW REMARKS. I'M PLEASED TO INTRODUCE COUNCIL MEMBER ABBY CAYMAN. GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE, AND A BIT UNORTHODOX, BUT I'M ACTUALLY GONNA ASK MY COLLEAGUE, COUNCIL MEMBER ROBINSON, TO STAND WITH ME. I KNOW YOU'RE WEDGED IN. UM, YEAH, OF COURSE. UH, WHILE I REPRESENT THE DISTRICT, WE HAVE AMAZING AT LARGE COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT, UH, WORK IN PARTNERSHIP WITH US. AND FOR THAT PARTNERSHIP, I'M GRATEFUL. THANK YOU. WOW. OVER $40 MILLION ALREADY. UH, FIRST OFF, CONGRATULATIONS. AS WE WERE SITTING HERE, UH, UNDER THIS TENT, I WAS THINKING ABOUT HOW NICE IT IS THAT WE HAVE SHADE RIGHT NOW. AND, BUT THAT GOT ME THINKING IT, MAYOR, UNDER YOUR WORDS, WE HAVE SHAVE IN A ROOF, SHADE IN A ROOF OVER OUR HEAD. BUT WHAT YOU ARE PROVIDING IN THIS GIFT FOR SOME OF OUR MOST VULNERABLE CHILDREN IS A PERMANENT ROOF OVER THEIR HEAD. AND MAYOR, AS YOU SAID, SURROUNDED BY LOVE. AND WHAT A, WHAT A GIFT. SO MY HEART GOES OUT TO ALL OF YOU. UM, AS WE CONTINUE THIS WORK FOR OUR CITY AND OUR COUNTY, WE ARE CELEBRATING TODAY AN INCREDIBLE MILESTONE IN THE WORK OF SO MANY THAT GOT US HERE, COVENANT HOUSE. YOU CONTINUE TO PLAY SUCH A VITAL ROLE IN OUR CITY COUNTY PARTNERSHIPS AND STRATEGY IN ADDRESSING AND PREVENTING HOMELESSNESS, PROVIDING SHELTER, LOVE, SUPPORT, AND SANCTUARY TO OUR COMMUNITY'S YOUTH. I CANNOT EVEN BEGIN TO EXPRESS MY APPRECIATION ON BEHALF OF DISTRICT C AND ALL OF THE RESIDENTS THAT BELIEVE SO STRONGLY IN THIS WORK, BECAUSE WE TRULY ARE A COMMUNITY. UH, STARTING LESLIE WITH YOU AND YOUR TEAM, CONGRATULATIONS FOR ALL THE WORK. AND SUSAN, PLEASE RELAY OUR GRATITUDE AS WELL, UM, TO YOUR ENTIRE FAMILY AND THE BOARD. THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. I ALSO WANNA GIVE A ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR COVENANT HOUSE STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS. SO IF WE COULD ACKNOWLEDGE THEM AND THEIR WORK. 'CAUSE JUST LIKE OUR STAFF AT THE CITY DIRECTOR BYNUM, THEY ARE THE BOOTS ON THE GROUND MAKING THE DAY-TO-DAY MAGIC HAPPEN, AND WE ARE FOREVER GRATEFUL. COMMISSIONER ELLIS, YOU CONTINUE TO BE SUCH AN INCREDIBLE PARTNER IN THIS WORK, UH, TO FURTHER THE VISION THAT WE SEE FOR THE FUTURE, UH, HOUSTON, THAT IS PROMISING AND BRIGHT FOR ALL. SO THANK YOU AND THE COUNTY'S PARTNERSHIP, AND MAYOR, YOUR STAUNCH AND UNWIELDING STAND, UH, FOR WHAT COMPASSIONATE HOMELESS OUTREACH MEANS, UH, IS A SYMBOL FOR THE NATION. AND TO BE ABLE TO STAND HERE, UH, WITH $6.7 MILLION THAT THE CITY HAS GIVEN TOWARDS THIS PROJECT, UH, THERE AREN'T ENOUGH WORDS TO SAY THE PROGRESS THAT WE HAVE MADE, AND THAT IS DIRECTLY A RESULT OF YOU, YOUR TEAM, UM, AND EVERYTHING THAT WE ARE CREATING TOGETHER. SO, THANK YOU. YOU KNOW, WHEN I WAS ASKED TO PROVIDE A LETTER OF SUPPORT FOR COVENANT HOUSE'S COMMITMENT ON THIS, UH, IT'S AN AUTOMATIC YES, BUT I THINK THE QUESTION IS, WHAT ELSE CAN WE DO? SO PLEASE KNOW THAT WE STAND READY TO HELP IN EVERY ASPECT AS YOU MOVE ALONG. AND ONE OF THE THINGS, I KNOW IT'S A CELEBRATION TODAY, BUT WE HAVE MEDIA HERE. I'M GONNA MAKE AN ASK. UM, COVENANT HOUSE, AS MANY OF US KNOW, UH, UNDERWENT SOME REALLY CHALLENGING, UH, CIRCUMSTANCES RECENTLY, UH, WITH THE ROBBERY. UM, AND WE, THEY'RE STILL TRYING TO RECOVER FROM THAT. SO IF ANYONE IS ABLE TO CONTRIBUTE SO THAT WE CAN HELP GET THAT PROJECT UP AND GOING AGAIN, PLEASE GO TO COVENANT HOUSE TX.ORG, AND I'M ASKING OUR MEDIA PARTNERS TO SHARE THAT OUT. UM, FINALLY, I WANNA SAY THAT OUR YOUTH, OUR HOMELESS YOUTH, ARE OFTENTIMES THOSE THAT ARE LEFT IN THE SHADOWS. THEY'RE NOT THE ONES WE NECESSARILY SEE IN THE FACT THAT YOU ARE SHINING A LIGHT ON THAT AND BRINGING LIGHT INTO EACH OF THESE CHILDREN'S LIVES, AND ESPECIALLY OUR LGBTQ PLUS YOUTH WHO ARE OFTENTIMES OUR MOST VULNERABLE, UM, IS A GIFT THAT WILL CONTINUE TO RIPPLE MAYOR, AS YOU SAID, THROUGH THE GENERATION. SO WITH THAT, I JUST SIMPLY AM HERE TO SAY THANK YOU. UH, I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING THE PARTNERSHIP. AND I ALSO WANT TO, UH, AM I CALLING UP? AM I INTRODUCING COMMISSIONER ELLIS OR YOU WANNA, YOU CAN, IF YOU, I'LL LET YOU COME UP. I'M SURE YOU HAVE SOME PREMIERED REMARKS, BUT AGAIN, COMMISSIONER, THANK YOU FOR ALWAYS BEING THERE. IT MAKES YOU PRETTY PROUD TO BE IN HOUSTON WHEN YOU HAVE, UH, PUBLIC OFFICIALS LIKE THIS, DOESN'T IT? WELL, THE NEXT GENTLEMAN IS NO EXCEPTION TO THAT. HARRIS COUNTY HAS ALSO REALIZED THE NEED FOR HELP TO THESE YOUTH. AND OUR COMMISSIONER, UH, RODNEY ELLIS, IS HERE TO [00:20:01] GIVE US A FEW REMARKS ABOUT THE COUNTY'S VIEW ON THIS. THANK YOU, MR. WALLACE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. YOU, UH, YOU'RE DOING A GREAT JOB AS A STAND IN. SUSAN AND MIKE, WE LOVE YOU SO MUCH. AND KURT, YOU'RE DOING A GREAT JOB, Y'ALL TO STAND IN FOR ME SOMETIMES, MAN, DO IT THE LAST MINUTE. LOOK, MOST OF WHAT I WANT TO SAY HAS ALREADY BEEN SAID. I WAS THINKING, MAYOR, HOW SIGNIFICANT IT IS THAT THIS NEIGHBORHOOD HAS BEEN SO TOLERANT AND SO ACCEPTING OF THIS GREAT FACILITY. SO GIVE THIS NEIGHBORHOOD A ROUND OF APPLAUSE. AND IT MAKES ME THINK HOW MUCH OF A CHALLENGE WE HAVE, BECAUSE THERE'S SO MANY NEIGHBORHOODS THAT ARE NOT QUITE AS ACCEPTING. UH, WHEN I WAS ASKING MY STAFF, WHEN I LOOKED AT THE REMARKS THEY PREPARED, I WAS SAYING, YOU KNOW, MOST OF US DON'T REALLY HAVE A FACE, UH, AT THE TOP OF OUR, OUR MINDS OF SOMEONE WHO'S COME OUT OF ONE OF THESE FACILITIES AND HOW WELL THEY HAVE DONE. SO, I WON'T CALL THIS NAME, BUT, UH, UH, TELEPRO, WHO SHARED SOME SPACE AT YOUR LAW OFFICE, MAYOR WHO WORKS WITH A, A GOOD FRIEND FROM THE LEGISLATURE, I CALLED HIM AND SAID, HEY, YOU KNOW, I'M NOT SURE I KNEW WHEN YOU WERE AN INTERN. YOU CAME OUTTA FOSTER CARE SYSTEM. YOU HAD A GREAT LOVING FAMILY THAT TOOK YOU IN. BUT WHAT WAS IT LIKE BEFORE THAT? AND HE SAID, WELL, FIRST THREE IS MY LIFE. YEAH, I WAS IN AND OUT OF THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM, WENT ON TO GET TWO DEGREES FROM UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AND AN OUTSTANDING PERSON. AND MOST OF US DON'T THINK ABOUT THAT. SO I WANNA GIVE A ROUND OF APPLAUSE TO THOSE YOUNG PEOPLE WHO HAVE ENDURED THIS AND DONE WELL, DESPITE THE GREAT FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION FROM THE CITY AND MAYOR, THANK YOU. AND COUNCIL PEOPLE, IT IS SIGNIFICANT. I THINK THE COUNTY FIGURE MIGHT BE $4.1 MILLION, BUT LEMME TELL YOU WHAT'S MORE, WHAT'S MORE IMPRESSIVE THAN ANYTHING IS FOR THE PRIVATE SECTOR TO HAVE PUT UP THIS MUCH MONEY THAT SAYS A LOT ABOUT HOUSTON AND HARRIS COUNTY. SO THANK THEM FOR WHAT THEY HAVE DONE. YOU'VE MENTIONED IT EARLIER, BUT I WANNA REPEAT IT. EVERY YEAR, MORE THAN 200 FOSTER YOUTH WILL LEAVE THE STATE FUNDED FOSTER CARE SYSTEM IN HOUSTON IN THIS AREA, AND ATTEMPT TO NAVIGATE ADULTHOOD WITH VERY LITTLE SUPPORT. GIVEN THAT GREAT NEED. I'M EXCITED THAT THE COUNTY COULD PUT THE 4.1 MILLION IN AND THE CITY COULD PUT IN SUCH A LARGE AMOUNT OF MONEY, BUT THE PRIVATE SECTOR STEPPING UP IN SUCH A BIG WAY, IT WILL DELIVER HOMELESS YOUTH WITH HOUSING AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES THAT WILL GIVE THEM A SAFETY NET THAT HELP THEM PREPARE FOR THAT OUTSIDE WORLD. AND WE ALL KNOW HOW DIFFICULT IT IS. I WANNA THANK THE COUNTY DEPARTMENT PEOPLE, I'M NOT SURE WHO'S HERE, BUT THE HARRIS COUNTY COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT, THEY CAME TO ME AND SAID, WE KNOW IT'S IN YOUR PRECINCT. WE KNOW YOU SUPPORT IT, BUT SOMEBODY'S GOTTA HELP ROUND UP THESE VOTES AROUND THE TABLE. AND I CAN'T TALK BUT ONE. SO I CALLED JUDGE ALGO AND I SAID, LOOK, WHEN THIS COMES UP, YOU KNOW, DON'T, LET'S, LET'S NOT SIT BACK AND BE QUIET. LET'S MAKE SURE WE HAVE OUR THREE VOTES THAT TURNED INTO FIVE. SO I APPRECIATE THE UNANIMOUS SUPPORT OF HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S COURT FOR SUPPORTING THIS PROJECT. THIS IS JUST ONE PART OF HARRIS COUNTY'S PARTNERSHIP WITH COVENANT HOUSE, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO A LONG AND FRUITFUL RELATIONSHIP OVER THE YEARS. I AM ADVOCATING MAYOR, AND I WANT TO ENCOURAGE YOU IN THIS LAST YEAR, VERY SIGNIFICANT YEAR, AS YOU, UH, END UP LEAVING AND GOING TO WHATEVER NEW OPPORTUNITY COMES YOUR WAY, WE OUGHT TO LOOK FOR WAYS ANDY IN CITY LEADERS TO DO SOMETHING FOR NEIGHBORHOODS LIKE THIS ONE WHO TAKE IN MY JUDGMENT, A DISPROPORTIONATE SHARE OF THE RESPONSIBILITY TO HELP THOSE WHO HAVE THE LEAST AMONG US. SO THAT'S MY NEW MANTRA I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHENEVER IT'S THE ISSUE OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING AT PRECINCT ONE. WE ALWAYS TAKE THEM AND WE ARE GLAD TO TAKE THEM BECAUSE WHETHER YOU READ THE QURAN, THE TORAH, THE BIBLE, WHATEVER IT IS, ALL OF US BELIEVE IN TAKING CARE OF FOLKS WHO HAVE THE LEAST AMONG US. BUT EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD DOES NOT DO THAT. SO I WANT TO ENCOURAGE MY PUBLIC SECTOR PARTNERS AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR, WE OUGHT TO LOOK AT ALLOCATING MORE OF OUR RESOURCES TO HELP THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS WHO HELP SO MANY YOUNG PEOPLE, LIKE THE ONES WHO WILL COME THROUGH COVENANT HOUSE TO GET OTHER RESOURCES FROM THE CITY AND THE COUNTY AND THE PHILANTHROPIC AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR. LASTLY, I WANNA CONGRATULATE YOU ON THE GREAT TEMPORARY CAMPUS THAT YOU HAVE, WHICH HAPPENS TO BE IN MY PRECINCT AS WELL IN THIRD WARD. AND I THINK THE LESSONS WE CAN TAKE FROM THAT TEMPORARY SITE ABOUT YOUNG PEOPLE HAVING ACCESS TO UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON AND TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY. 'CAUSE GIVING THEM A OPPORTUNITY TO GET A LEG UP IS THE FIRST STEP. BUT THE REAL CHALLENGE IS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY CONTINUE TO HAVE THAT SUPPORT TO BE PRODUCTIVE CITIZENS, AND THEY CAN HELP WRITE CHECKS FOR SOME OF THAT 30 MILLION THAT [00:25:01] THE PRIVATE SECTOR PROVIDED FOR THIS PROJECT TODAY. THANK YOU. AND HARRIS COUNTY IS GLAD TO BE SUPPORTED. UH, THANK YOU COMMISSIONER ELLIS FOR THAT. UH, MAYOR TURNER, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR ALL YOUR HISTORIC SUPPORT OF COVENANT HOUSE, UH, IN THE PAST AND IN THE FUTURE. WE, WE GREATLY APPRECIATE IT. UM, AS NOTED TODAY THOUGH, I THOUGHT, YOU KNOW, WE HEARD ABOUT THE COUNTY AND THE CITY. I THINK IT'S ALSO NOTABLE THAT THE, UH, FEDERAL HOME LOAN BANK ALSO SUPPORTED US. SO WHAT A MODEL OF PRIVATE, UH, AND PUBLIC PARTNERSHIP. IT'S REALLY A GREAT MODEL FOR, FOR ALL OF US. UH, AND WE THANK EVERYBODY FOR THAT SUPPORT. WELL, GOOD MORNING EVERYBODY. MY NAME'S JOHN SARTI AND, UH, AMONG OTHER THINGS, I AM, UH, HEAD OF MIDDLE MARKET BANK AT TEXAS CAPITAL BANK, MIDDLE MARKET BANKING. I'M CO-CHAIR OF OUR CAPITAL CAMPAIGN, ALONG WITH MY LOVELY WIFE, LISA, UM, HEIDI AND TODD BENET. TODD'S RIGHT UP HERE WITH ME AND, UH, KURT AND MARLENE NOOR, ALSO FELLOW CO-CHAIRS. SO, UH, THANK YOU GUYS ALL AS WELL. UM, AND ALSO A 22 YEAR BOARD MEMBER. YES, I SAID 22 YEARS. OKAY. UM, KURT DIDN'T MENTION IT. HE'S, HE'S A 21 YEAR BOARD MEMBER. I SEE ANOTHER 21 YEAR BOARD MEMBER, RANDY WALKER. UM, SO, UH, IT PROBABLY COMES AS NO SURPRISE THAT, UM, COVENANT HOUSE AWAY IS PULL AWAY OF PULLING YOU IN, UM, FOR THE LONG HAUL AND, UH, BECOMING SOMEWHAT OF A LABOR LOVE FOR ANYBODY WHO GETS INVOLVED. SO I'M WARNING EVERYBODY OUT THERE, YOU KNOW, , UM, THE MISSION OF COVENANT HOUSE IS, IS STRAIGHTFORWARD. IT'S NOT SIMPLE, BUT IT'S STRAIGHTFORWARD. UM, WE WANT TO GIVE YOUTH, HOMELESS YOUTH A SAFE HAVEN, ABSOLUTE RESPECT, UNCONDITIONAL LOVE, AND A PATH TO LASTING INDEPENDENCE. I'VE WITNESSED, YOU KNOW, COUNTLESS EXAMPLES OF THIS MORE TIMES THAN I CAN COUNT. OVER THE PAST 22 YEARS, UH, WE'VE SEEN THOUSANDS OF YOUTH COME THROUGH OUR DOORS, UM, SUPPORTED BY THAT INCREDIBLY COMPASSIONATE, LOVING STAFF THAT YOU HEARD SO MUCH ABOUT FROM OTHERS. UM, AND THE, AND THEY COME TO COVENANT HOUSE TO GET WHAT WE CALL LIFE ALTERING, YOU KNOW, WRAPAROUND SERVICES, NOT JUST A, A ROOF OVER THEIR HEADS. IT'S SO MUCH MORE, YOU KNOW, YOU HEARD ABOUT IT, BUT IT'S BASIC FOOD AND HOUSING. UH, IT'S HEALTHCARE, DENTAL, BEHAVIORAL HEALTHCARE. WE HAVE GOT AN AMAZING PARTNERSHIP WITH BAYLOR AND DO, UH, AMAZING THINGS ON THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SIDE, WHICH IS POPULATION ABSOLUTELY NEEDS. UM, CAREER AND EDUCATION SERVICES, PASTORAL CARE, PARENTING PROGRAMS FOR, UH, MOTHERS AND, AND YOUTH, AND JUST SO MUCH MORE. SO IT REALLY IS A, AN INCREDIBLE USED TO REFER TO IT AS A HOMELESS SHELTER. IT'S JUST SO MUCH MORE THAN THAT. UH, TODAY DOES MARK JUST A HUGE MILESTONE IN, UH, THE MORE THAN 40 PLUS YEAR HISTORY OF COVENANT HOUSE IN HOUSTON, UM, AFTER MANY YEARS OF MAKING DUE WITH AN AGING CAMPUS AND INSUFFICIENT CAPACITY TO MEET THE NEED. UM, WE'RE FINALLY HERE. WE'RE BREAKING GROUND ON THIS NEW FACILITY THAT'S GONNA ALLOW COVENANT HOUSE, TEXAS TO SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASE THE NUMBER OF YOUTH SERVED. AND IT'S GONNA BE PURPOSE BUILT AND DESIGNED TO SUPPORT THE LIFE ALTERING SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE TO THE YOUTH WHO CALL COVENANT HOUSE. NOT JUST THE SHELTER, BUT THEY CALL IT HOME. UM, I'M EXTREMELY GRATEFUL TO EVERYBODY HERE WHO'S HAD ANY PART IN DOING THIS. IT'S BEEN 22 YEARS A LABOR OF LOVE FOR A LOT OF US. SO THANK YOU. I'LL NOW TURN THINGS OVER TO MY PARTNER IN CRIME, MY FRIEND, UH, AND FELLOW BOARD MEMBER AND CO-CHAIR TODD BENET TO SHARE SOME ADDITIONAL THOUGHTS. TODD, THANK YOU, JOHN. UH, GOOD MORNING. TODD BENET. UM, I'M A MEMBER OF THE BOARD AND, AND ALONG WITH MY WIFE HEIDI, AS JOHN MENTIONED, UH, CO-CHAIR OF THE CAPITAL CAMPAIGN ALONG WITH KURT AND MARLENE, NON DOF. SO MANY, UH, MEMBERS OF THAT COMMITTEE HERE. I THINK I SEE AMY SNUS IN THE BACK. SO MANY TALENTED PEOPLE STEPPING UP TO BE. STAN MERRICK IS AN HONORARY CHAIR OF THE, OF THE CAPITAL CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE. SO MY JOB HERE TODAY IS, IS PRETTY EASY. I GET THIS, UH, THANK ALL OF THE PEOPLE, UH, WHO HAVE BECOME MAJOR CAPITAL CONTRIBUTORS. AND SO BEFORE I GO THROUGH THE LIST OF, OF THOSE FOLKS, I ALSO WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE CADENCE BANK. UM, CADENCE BANK HAS BEEN A WONDERFUL PARTNER. THEY'VE STEPPED UP AND ACTUALLY PROVIDED US WITH A $25 MILLION FACILITY TO COMPLETE THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE CAMPUS ACROSS THE STREET BETWEEN THAT 25 MILLION PLUS THE THE 41 OR 42. AND AS WE CLOSE OUR GAP TO A 52 50 $3 MILLION, UH, ULTIMATE GOAL, THEY PROVIDE US WITH THE BRIDGE FINANCING TO DO THAT. SO, THANKS TO CADENCE BANK, I DON'T KNOW IF ANYONE'S HERE FROM CADENCE, BUT THANK YOU FOR THAT PARTNERSHIP. AND CERTAINLY A LOT OF PEOPLE WORK BEHIND THE SCENES TO GET THAT CREDIT FACILITY IN PLACE. SO WITH RESPECT TO THOSE THAT HAVE COME, UH, WHAT ARE CONSIDERED MAJOR CAPITAL CONTRIBUTORS TO THE CAMPAIGN AT, AT THE, UH, [00:30:01] 500,000 TO MILLION DOLLAR LEVEL, UH, LAURA AND GEORGE TIKI, JOANNE PETERSON, THE MEINIG FAMILY FOUNDATION, THE FLORENCE AND WILLIAM K. MCGEE, JUNIOR FAMILY FOUNDATION, STAN MERRICK, UH, WHO I KNOW IS HERE. UH, THE FREEZE FOUNDATION, THE FRAN FOUNDATION, AS JOHN MENTIONED, THE FHLB, AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROGRAM, UH, THE WILLIAMS STAMPS FAIRISH FUND, THE ELKINS FOUNDATION, UH, GRACE AND D FORD, UH, LIVE IN FOUNDATION. UH, LAURA AND JOHN ARNOLD, UH, AS IT TURNS OUT, IS JOHN ARNOLD'S BIRTHDAY TODAY. SO I SENT HIM A PICTURE OF OUR, UH, BANNER THERE AND SAID, HAPPY BIRTHDAY. WE'RE DOING A GROUNDBREAKING THIS MORNING. SO IF YOU SEE JOHN, PLEASE WISH HIM A HAPPY BIRTHDAY AT THE MILLION TO 3 MILLION LEVEL. DOUG PITCOCK, THE HAMILL FOUNDATION, UH, THE COOLIDGE FOUNDATION, AND THEN, UH, 3 MILLION AND ABOVE THE MAYBE FOUNDATION WHO JUST, UH, GAVE US A BIG CHALLENGE GRANT, UM, WHICH IS HUGELY IMPORTANT TO US. THE LAST 3 MILLION OF THE CAPITAL CAMPAIGN WILL BE THERE AND PROVIDED BY, UH, THE MAYBE FOUNDATION, HARRIS COUNTY, OF COURSE. THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND, UH, PARTNERSHIP. UH, THE BROWN FOUNDATION HAS BEEN A BIG SUPPORTER OF THE CAMPAIGN AND THE COVENANT HOUSE IN GENERAL. AND OF COURSE, LAST BUT NOT LEAST, THE CITY OF HOUSTON AT THE 5 MILLION PLUS LEVEL. UM, IF, IF YOU'LL INDULGE ME, I JUST WANTED TO SHARE ONE, UH, STORY, UH, THAT I SHARED, UH, NOT TOO LONG AGO, SHARED BY A GENTLEMAN WHO YOU ALL PROBABLY KNOW PRETTY WELL, UH, WHO PASSED IN AUGUST OF LAST YEAR NAMED JAMIE ROOTS. UM, JAMIE IS PRESIDENT OF THE HOUSTON TEXANS AND A BIG, BIG PARTNER OF THE COVENANT HOUSE LED US IN OUR EXECUTIVE SLEEP OUT A FEW YEARS BACK AS AN HONORARY CHAIR. AND HE SHARED A STORY ABOUT A YOUNG BOY WHO, UH, AFTER A STORM SWEPT THROUGH, WAS OUT ON THE BEACH AND THERE WAS LITERALLY THOUSANDS OF STARFISH, UM, THAT WERE ON THE BEACH. AND THIS YOUNG BOY WAS REACHING DOWN AND PICKING UP A STARFISH AND LOOKING AT IT AND THROWING IT BACK INTO THE WATER. AND HE WOULD DO THAT REPEATEDLY. AND AN OLDER WISER GENTLEMAN WALKED BY AND WATCHED THIS YOUNG BOY DOING THIS, AND HE SAID TO THE YOUNG BOY, WELL, SON, WHAT ARE YOU DOING? AND HE SAID, WELL, SIR, I'M SAVING STARFISH. I'M TRYING TO HELP. AND HE SAID, SON, DON'T YOU REALIZE, LOOK AT ALL THESE STARFISH. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF THEM ON THIS BEACH. YOU CAN'T REALLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE. AND THE YOUNG BOY PICKED UP THAT STAR NEXT STARFISH AND LOOKED AT IT AND THREW IT IN THE WATER AND SAID, I'VE JUST MADE ALL THE DIFFERENCE FOR THAT ONE. AND THAT'S THE ESSENCE OF WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE AT THE COVENANT HOUSE, IS WE ARE HELPING EACH AND EVERY HOMELESS YOUTH TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BECOME A MEANINGFUL PART OF OUR SOCIETY. AND SO, UM, THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE THIS MORNING. WE ARE, UM, WE ARE DEAD SET ON CLOSING THE GAP AND OUR CAPITAL REQUIREMENTS. AND WE THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SUPPORT. HELLO EVERYONE. I'M LESLIE BORN AND I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF COVENANT HOUSE TEXAS. AND IT IS JUST SUCH AN HONOR TO HAVE THIS ROLE AND TO WORK WITH THESE TREMENDOUS BOARD MEMBERS AND DONORS THAT I'M LOOKING OUT AT TODAY THAT MADE THIS STORY HAPPEN. UM, IT'S A PLEASURE TO SEE YOU ALL, AND I'M SO GLAD WE'RE ALL HERE CELEBRATING THIS DAY TOGETHER. UM, WE EMBARK ON OUR NEXT CHAPTER IN OUR MISSION TO SERVE, UH, YOUTH ENDURING HOME, UH, HOMELESSNESS IN OUR COMMUNITY. SO THIS EXCITING NEW CHAPTER QUITE LITERALLY BUILDS UPON OUR HISTORY AS PART OF THIS NEIGHBORHOOD. IT WAS 40 YEARS AGO IN 1983 THAT COVENANT HOUSE STARTED PROVIDING SHELTER AND SERVICES TO, UH, TO YOUTH IN HOUSTON. AND IT BEGAN RIGHT HERE IN THE MONTROSE ON THIS STREET CORNER. SO HERE WE ARE TODAY, 40 YEARS LATER, CELEBRATING THE BUILDING OF OUR NEW CAMPUS. SO HOW DO YOU, HOW DO YOU EVEN TOP THAT? UM, IT'S A SPECIAL DAY THAT WE HAVE ANTICIPATED FOR A VERY, VERY, VERY LONG TIME, AND WE'RE SO GRATEFUL TO HAVE YOU HERE AND YOUR SUPPORT. AND THANK YOU AGAIN, MR. UH, MAYOR TURNER, AND I'M DELIGHTED THAT YOU AND, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN AND OUR NEIGHBOR, COUNCIL MEMBER ROBINSON AND COMMISSIONER ELLIS ARE HERE TODAY TO SUPPORT US. IT MEANS THE WORLD TO US THAT YOU'RE HERE. UM, THANK YOU FOR BELIEVING IN OUR MISSION AND THE WORK WE DO AT COVENANT HOUSE AND INVESTING IN THE FUTURE OF OUR YOUTH AND OUR COMMUNITY, AND ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO FEEL INVISIBLE AND FORGOTTEN, UM, BY SUPPORTING THIS FACILITY AND OUR MISSION. YOU'VE DEMONSTRATED TO THE YOUTH OF COVENANT HOUSE TODAY AND IN THE FUTURE THAT THEY MATTER AND THEY DESERVE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT THIS GREAT COMMUNITY OF HOUSTON HAS TO OFFER. I WANNA RECOGNIZE SOME VERY WONDERFUL PARTNERS HERE TODAY WHO HAVE BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN BRINGING THIS VISION TO LIFE, OUR ARCHITECTURAL FIRM, GINSLER, I THINK SOME OF YOU ARE HERE, BUT I HAVEN'T FOUND YOU YET. THERE YOU ARE. HARVEY, [00:35:01] HARVEY BUILDERS, DAVID HARVEY, JOE CLEARY, AND JOHN PUTNAM AND RICK CONLEY OVER HERE FROM PIN OAK. THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE HAVE ANOTHER PROJECT FOR THEM. OBVIOUSLY PIN OAK LIT LITERALLY LIVES HERE. WE HAVE SO MUCH WORK FOR THEM TO DO, BUT WE'RE THRILLED TO HAVE YOU ALL ON OUR TEAM. UM, OUR NEW BUILDING HAS BEEN DESIGNED SPECIFICALLY FOR THE YOUTH THAT WE SERVE. AND WHEN FINISHED, I'M CONFIDENT THAT THIS NEW BUILDING WILL REFLECT THE SAFE HAVEN, ABSOLUTE RESPECT AND UNCONDITIONAL LOVE THAT COVENANT HOUSE TEXAS EXTENDS TO EVERY YOUNG PERSON WHO ENTERS OUR DOORS. WE WANT EVERY YOUTH TO LEAVE US TRANSFORMED, STEPPING CONFIDENTLY INTO A FULFILLING INDEPENDENT LIFE. OUR WORK WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE WITHOUT OUR TIRELESS, TALENTED AND DEDICATED COVENANT HOUSE STAFF. THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN FOR ALSO MENTIONING THEM. THEY ARE TIRELESS AND DEDICATED. AND WOULD ANY OF OUR STAFF, IF YOU'RE HERE, PLEASE STAND UP OR JUST RAISE YOUR HAND SO WE CAN GIVE YOU A SHOUT OUT AND THANK YOU. WE HAVE MANY 20 PLUS YEAR, UM, EMPLOYEES HERE AT COVENANT HOUSE THAT HAVE GROWN UP WITH US. SO THANK YOU ALL FOR THE WORK YOU DO WITH OUR YOUTH. UM, CURRENTLY COVENANT HOUSE SERVES OVER A THOUSAND HOMELESS YOUTH AND AT-RISK YOUTH ANNUALLY PROVIDING OVER 22,000 NIGHTS OF HOUSING EACH YEAR. EVEN WITH THESE NUMBERS, WE HAVE A WAITING LIST OF OVER 40 TO 45 KIDS EVERY NIGHT WAITING TO GET INTO OUR EMERGENCY SHELTER. AND THAT'S NOT INCLUDING 15 TO 20 THAT WE SLUR, THAT WE FIT ON EMERGENCY MATS. THE NEW CAMPUS WILL ENABLE US TO HOUSE AND CARE UP FOR AN ADDITIONAL 50% MORE YOUTH EACH NIGHT, WHILE ALSO INCREASING SPACE FOR OUR VITAL PROGRAMS THAT WE JUST WERE JUST MENTIONED. UM, FOR OUR BAYLOR MEDICAL AND MENTAL HEALTHCARE CLINIC, I DO WANNA GIVE A SHOUT OUT THE IMPORTANCE OF THAT PARTNERSHIP. MANY OF YOU MAY NOT KNOW THAT THE MEDICAL RESIDENTS AND FELLOWS HAVE A ROTATION THROUGH OUR BAYLOR MEDICAL CLINIC HERE. SO THEY ARE LEARNING ABOUT THE HOMELESS HEALTHCARE ISSUES OUT THERE, AND THEY ARE VAST, AND I DON'T EVEN KNOW THE RIGHT WORD TO USE, BUT, UH, THEY, UM, MANY OF THESE KIDS HAVE NEVER HAD MEDICAL CARE OR INTERRUPTED MEDICAL CARE. BUT TO HAVE THE, UM, RESIDENTS AND FELLOWS ROTATE AND LEARN ABOUT THAT IS JUST SUCH AN HONOR FOR US TO, TO HOST THEM HERE. UM, OUR VISION FOR THIS NEW FACILITY AND OUR EXPANDED SERVICES IS TO HELP EVEN MORE YOUTH WHO ENTER COVENANT HOUSE TEXAS TO FIND HOPE, COURAGE, AND SUPPORT THAT THEY NEED TO PURSUE THEIR DREAMS. SO SPEAKING OF DREAMS, WE'RE GONNA END THIS AND WE'RE GONNA START NOW. SO SPEAKING OF DREAMS, IT IS TIME FOR US, COVENANT HOUSE, TEXAS TO CELEBRATE ONE VERY BIG DREAM THAT IS FINALLY COMING TRUE. AND SO, MAYOR TURNER, COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN, COMMISSIONER ELLIS, COUNCIL MEMBER ROBINSON, UH, KURT NADO, OUR FOR WHO IS OUR FORMER BOARD CHAIR, PLEASE JOIN ME FOR THE CEREMONIAL TURNING OVER ARE THE FIRST SHOVELS OF EARTH ON OUR NEW COVENANT HOUSE HOME. THANK YOU EVERYBODY. YES. * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.