Conroe homeless complex to expand
Conroe-based Compassion United is moving on with its next phase for its campus aimed at helping people experiencing homelessness after officials with Houston-based HomeAid Houston and Highland Homes agree to construct several transitional homes.
Construction is expected to start next month.
Luke Redus, founder of Compassion United, is developing Miracle City, a complex to help transition people out of homelessness.
HomeAid Houston is the link between nonprofit care providers needing construction assistance and builder professionals. The group works with members of the Greater Houston Builders Association to facilitate new construction and remodeling of shelters for those experiencing homelessness.
Redus said the idea for the complex to serve the homeless began in 2018. At the end of that year, the city agreed to donate 5 acres on Foster Drive to make Miracle City a reality.
Fundraising efforts generated $1.5 million to construct a 5,500square-foot Empowerment Center that houses the organization’s offices and classrooms and is currently being used to provide meals and worship services.
Redus said Compassion United began operations at the site in April of 2022.
“The focus of everything we do is to help people stand on their own,” Redus said. “What sets up apart is we are not winging it. We have trained for this, we have education in this, and we know how to deal with atrisk populations and people struggling with addiction.”
The campus includes an onsite career coach, group counseling, computer access and comprehensive case management.
Redus said the transitional houses are critical to the campus.
Current plans are three houses: one for men, one for women and one for women with children. The homes will span about 3,300 square feet and will have room for 16 people, and the one for women and children will be able to house seven families.
“Our goal is to have five houses,” Redus said. “We are currently operating two transitional homes but they are offsite. We feel like moving those houses on campus will not only increase our capacity but our effectiveness.”
The organization’s success rate, Redus said, is about 70 percent. By the end of 2023, Compassion United will have helped 40 people get off the streets.
Redus said he hopes to have the home completed in about 18 months. When the homes are all complete, Redus said he hopes to transition approximately 150 people a year.
The cost to construct the homes was not available.
HomeAid Houston Executive Director Carole Brady said through its partnership with GHBA, almost all construction costs are donated.
“We do as much as we can to get everything paid for,” Brady said.
By getting the services donated, Brady said nonprofits keep more of their funds to put toward helping people. She said her organization is excited to work with Compassion United.
“Luke is an amazing person,” she said. “Compassion United is such an amazing organization.”
Along with the transitional houses, Redus said the plan for the complex includes an 8,000square-foot $2.1 million day center with a commercial kitchen, showers, medical care and computer rooms.
Redus said the day center is fully funded through federal grant dollars. The center is expected to be completed in about 18 months.
The center is critical in the transition of people out of homelessness.
“We will have programming happening all day and things for them to do there, to move them forward,” Redus said. “If we can keep them onsite, there is a better chance we can move them into transition and reduce the negative impact they have on the streets of Conroe.”