The Build Up Bash aims to raise critical funds to keep Houston families housed

• Press Release (PDF)
• Press Kit (PDF)

Avenue, a Houston-based nonprofit dedicated to building affordable homes and strengthening communities, is proud to announce the launch of its new annual fundraiser, The Build Up Bash: Rent Party, on October 8, 2025. Inspired by the vibrant legacy of Harlem rent parties, this event will blend celebration with purpose, raising funds to preserve affordable housing, supporting homeownership education, and providing emergency rental assistance to local families.

A Modern Twist on a Powerful Tradition

The Build Up Bash pays tribute to the rent parties of 1920s Harlem, where Black residents facing steep rent and wage discrimination opened their homes, played jazz, served food, and passed a hat to help each other make the rent. These gatherings weren’t only acts of economic survival they were also hotbeds of cultural innovation, launching music careers and shaping the sound and dance of the Jazz Age. Residents found ways to support one another through music, food, and generosity.

The Need Is Urgent

In Houston, three out of four renters in Avenue’s affordable apartments earn less than 50% of the Area Median Income (AMI), roughly $50,000 annually for a family of four. Meanwhile, rent continues to rise faster than wages, leaving many households one crisis away from displacement.

Funds raised at the Build Up Bash will support Avenue’s work to:

• Keep rent affordable for working families
• Provide homeownership education to build long-term financial stability
• Launch a new Emergency Rental Assistance Fund to help families stay housed during temporary financial crises

Event Details

• Event: Avenue Build Up Bash: Rent Party
• Date: October 8^th, 6:30-10pm
• Location: White Oak Music Hall
• Music: Step Rideau & The Zydeco Outlaws
• Emcee: Vanessa Cole, Cole Klein Builders
• Information, Tickets & Sponsorships: Available at www.avenuecdc.org/buildup25

The Build Up Bash will feature live music, dancing, curated cocktails, and a celebration that honors the soul of the Harlem rent party—while investing in the future of Houston’s communities.

For more information, contact the Office of Fund Development at events@avenuecdc.org