BREAKING NEWS: Ja Morant Invests $8.4 Million to Transform Historic Memphis Mansion into Safe Haven for Homeless Youth
MEMPHIS, TN — July 26, 2025
In an inspiring display of compassion and commitment to his community, Memphis Grizzlies superstar Ja Morant has announced a groundbreaking $8.4 million personal investment to transform a historic Midtown Memphis mansion into a state-of-the-art shelter and empowerment center for homeless youth. The project, dubbed Morant House, will provide not only beds and meals for up to 60 young people at a time but also education programs, mental health services, job training, and mentorship opportunities designed to break the cycle of homelessness for good.
Standing at a press conference on the sunlit lawn of the sprawling, ivy-clad mansion on Union Avenue — once an abandoned relic of the city’s past — Morant spoke passionately about the project’s mission and his deep connection to Memphis.
“This city has given me so much love since the moment I arrived here,” Morant told reporters, surrounded by community leaders, teammates, and families who came to show support. “I see these kids every day — some sleeping on benches, some hustling just to eat. I couldn’t just stand by. I wanted to do something real, something lasting, that says: ‘We see you. We believe in you. And you belong here too.’”
The initiative comes at a critical moment for Memphis, where an estimated 1,200 youth experience homelessness each year. Many of these young people face multiple barriers — trauma, poverty, family instability, and lack of access to basic resources. Morant House aims to tackle those issues head-on with a holistic approach: warm beds, nutritious meals, counseling, life skills training, and a safe environment to plan for a brighter future.
At the press event, Morant’s mother, Jamie Morant, shared that her son’s commitment to giving back has been a defining trait since he was a boy in Dalzell, South Carolina.
“Ja’s always had a heart bigger than basketball,” she said, her voice trembling with pride. “When he got his first big contract, he didn’t talk about cars or jewelry. He talked about what he could do for kids like him — kids who just need someone to believe in them.”
The $8.4 million investment covers the purchase and complete renovation of the mansion, which dates back to 1912 and once hosted lavish gatherings of Memphis’ elite. Now, its grand halls and ornate rooms will echo with laughter, learning, and hope instead of silence and decay.
Renovations, which began quietly six months ago, are already well underway. The new design will include dormitory-style sleeping quarters, private counseling rooms, a library, computer labs, classrooms, a community kitchen, a rooftop garden for urban farming, and an indoor gym — which Morant promises to personally visit often to shoot hoops with the residents.
“Sometimes it’s not just about giving money,” Morant added. “It’s about giving time. I plan to be here — to hoop, to listen, to help however I can.”
The project is being developed in partnership with local nonprofit YouthRise Memphis, which has worked with underserved teens in the city for more than a decade. Executive Director Tara Evans said Morant’s vision and personal involvement have breathed new life into her organization’s mission.
“Ja didn’t just write a check and disappear,” Evans said. “He sat with us, asked questions, learned about the kids’ stories, and made it clear he wants these doors to stay open for generations. This is how you change lives — with heart and action.”
Beyond shelter and food, Morant House will offer GED classes, college prep workshops, resume building, and internships with local businesses. A dedicated team of social workers, teachers, and volunteers will provide 24/7 support.
For many in Memphis, Morant’s investment is a beacon of hope at a time when the city has been grappling with rising youth homelessness and the aftermath of the pandemic’s economic strain.
“When kids have no safe place to sleep, no guidance, and no love — they end up on the streets, in gangs, in jail, or worse,” said Shelby County Commissioner Darius Reed, who attended the announcement. “What Ja is doing here is more than charity. It’s prevention. It’s public safety. It’s community healing.”
Local residents have already begun rallying around the project. Volunteers, including Morant’s teammates from the Grizzlies, have spent weekends painting walls, assembling furniture, and landscaping the once-overgrown grounds. Fans have started grassroots fundraisers to contribute additional resources for educational materials and recreational activities.
Social media exploded after the announcement, with hashtags like #MorantHouse and #JaCares trending nationwide. Fans across the NBA praised the point guard’s leadership both on and off the court.
“Ja Morant just proved he’s the MVP of Memphis — not just in basketball, but in life,” tweeted one fan. Another wrote, “This man is building more than a legacy. He’s building futures.”
When asked how he hopes people will remember Morant House years from now, Ja paused, looking out at the towering oak trees shading the property.
“I don’t care if they remember my stats or my dunks,” he said with a grin. “I hope they remember that we turned a broken place into a home. And maybe some kid who comes through these doors will go on to do something even bigger — and pass it forward. That’s the real win.”
Morant House is expected to open its doors to its first residents this winter. Applications for volunteers, mentors, and donations are already pouring in, and a grand opening celebration is being planned for December, just in time to provide warmth, safety, and family to dozens of young Memphians who need it most.
For the young people of Memphis, Ja Morant isn’t just the Grizzlies’ electrifying star — he’s becoming the hometown hero they can count on, on and off the hardwood. And for a city that has so often been overlooked, this $8.4 million gift is proof that
sometimes, hope really does come home.
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