HALO HOUSE CAPITAL CAMPAIGN

The Texas Medical Center (TMC) is the largest medical complex in the world and home to some of the brightest minds in medicine. Those of us who live in Houston are blessed to have world-class cancer care nearby. In 2016, the TMC had over 30,000 patient visits from people battling leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma. During treatment for these types of cancer, patients often must be immediately accessible (less than 15 minutes) to their treatment facility. For patients not from Houston, this expense can literally bankrupt them. In 2009, Halo House was founded by MD Anderson’s Dr. Nathan Fowler because he was keenly aware of this need.

For the past seven years, Halo House has been operating out of 10 leased apartments. This has worked well as an interim step, but it was never contemplated to be the long-term solution. Apartments are provided to eligible patients for $20/day; an amount substantially lower than area hotels ($139-$229/night).

To date, over 280 families have been served with over 18,000 days of housing. Every day there are between 85 and 100 people on our waiting list.

Due to this critical shortage of clean, affordable patient housing near the TMC, the overwhelming number of applications already received by Halo House (>2,500) and our desire to put in place a system that efficiently and cost-effectively provides housing for decades to come, Halo House is building a dedicated facility.

Providing over 11,000 days of housing annually, the new 42,000 sq. ft. Halo House will include 33 apartments for patients and families, a small fitness center where patients and caregivers can exercise and still be just a minute away from their loved ones, and plenty of peaceful green space. The “heart” of the building is the multipurpose Activity Center. Here people can sit together to share stories and experiences, medical professionals can come in to talk about coping with cancer, and churches or other organizations that want to help can have game nights and dinners. The “soul” of the building will be the Chapel.

The new Halo House facility will be “green” and environmentally friendly; built to maximize energy efficiency, using enduring construction materials for minimal maintenance costs. Shuttle service to the TMC will be provided.

Halo House will be located just minutes away from the TMC on Corder Street near the intersection of Almeda Street. The hope of Halo House is that no family battling a blood cancer will have the added burden of worrying about housing during treatment, and that Halo House will be their “home away from home.”

The $12.1 million project is co-chaired by Brad Freels of Midway, and Becca and Pat Clinch of Midland with help from Mike Morgan of the Morgan Group.

To honor or memorialized a friend or loved one, naming opportunities are still available. For more information, please refer to the link with list of naming opportunities.