Keeping a community healthy doesn’t just mean access to health care. It also means access to affordable housing, and that’s what Third Ward residents are getting now that Texas Southern University’s Institute for Urban Health and Public Housing has opened its doors in the old W.R. Banks Child Development Center. It features approximately 6,000 square feet of modernized space designed to foster research, training, and engagement. Renovations include ADA-compliant facilities, upgraded HVAC and energy-efficient lighting, flexible conference and workforce training rooms, wellness and clinical care spaces, and a new technology-enhanced multipurpose center for community use.

“The Institute emerged after TSU secured a $2 million dollar federal grant, championed by Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee’s office, to study public health outcomes in the Third Ward,” says Michelle John, Texas Southern Vice President of Research & Innovation. “That funding helped us establish a dedicated hub for urban public health at TSU.”

Once fully operational, the Institute will host annual conferences, quarterly seminars, and community workshops, while serving as a model for urban-focused research and engagement across the nation.

“Locating the Institute and clinic component here, Texas Southern University is anchoring these resources within the community, ensuring residents do not have to leave their neighborhood to receive screenings, education, and connections to care,” says Dr. Zuri Dale, Co-Principal Investigator & Assistant Vice President for Research & Innovation Initiatives. “It also allows TSU students and faculty to engage directly with the community in real time, linking research and service.”

The Institute will pursue a holistic approach to tackling health and housing by:

• Strengthening Housing Advocacy & Outreach – Building partnerships with grassroots organizations and local housing advocates, including Cuney Homes, to improve access to affordable housing.
• Enhancing Workforce Training – Preparing the next generation of healthcare professionals through hands-on training, technical assistance, and workforce development programs.
• Expanding the Faculty-Student Research Pipeline – Supporting collaborative research on non-medical drivers of health and fostering partnerships with institutions across the Texas Medical Center.
• Improving Access to Wellness Services – Leveraging existing healthcare partnerships to provide seminars, clinical forums, and community wellness activities.
• Mentoring K–12 Students – Offering year-round after-school and summer programs in collaboration with Texas Southern University undergraduates to strengthen academic success and critical thinking skills.
• Creating a Centralized Space for Community Engagement – Providing a technology-enabled hub for dialogue, collaboration, and empowerment on health and housing issues.

Since opening on October 15, the response to the institute has been tremendous, and hours have already been expanded.

“The expansion of the wellness clinic reflects both community need and engagement,” says Dr. Dale. “By offering extended hours, the Institute can accommodate working adults, caregivers, and students. The impact will be multi-layered: improved access to preventive screenings, earlier detection of chronic conditions, health education, and partnerships that address upstream causes like housing and employment. Over time, the Institute will serve as a data-informed anchor in the Third Ward, aligning academic research with tangible outcomes for residents.”

“The Institute for Urban Public Health and Housing embodies Texas Southern University’s mission to serve as a catalyst for change,” says John. “By linking research, education, and direct community engagement, Texas Southern University is ensuring that our scholarship translates into real-world solutions for Houston’s most pressing challenges.”

by Marene Gustin