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First readWhat to know+
Topic: Making Houston a Welcoming City for immigrants and refugeesPublished: August 2016Source: City of Houston, Neighborhood Centers, Houston Immigration Legal Services CollaborativeReading time: About 1 minuteKey Goal: Help immigrants access jobs, schools, safety, and legal services
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Good first step: Share Immigrants, refugees, or neighbors who need city support services
Hey, did you know Houston launched a plan to help immigrants and refugees get jobs, go to school, and stay safe? Look up the Welcoming Houston Initiative to find services near you.
In August 2016, Houston officially joined the Welcoming Cities network — a national movement led by the nonprofit Welcoming America. The City of Houston, Neighborhood Centers, and the Houston Immigration Legal Services Collaborative (HILSC) teamed up to build a strategy for helping immigrants and refugees thrive here. The goal: make sure every foreign-born Houstonian has fair access to jobs, education, services, and a voice in the community.
The Welcoming Houston initiative brought together leaders from nonprofit, business, education, faith, and cultural sectors to write a multi-sector strategic plan. The plan focused on six areas: economic mobility, access to services, education, language access, public safety, and legal status. Houston joined cities like Los Angeles, Atlanta, Chicago, and New York in making this commitment. The effort was supported by the Gateways for Growth Challenge, a program run by the Partnership for a New American Economy (NAE) and Welcoming America. Houston was one of only 20 communities nationwide chosen for that support.
If you are an immigrant, refugee, or someone who supports Houston's newcomer communities, this initiative is relevant to you. You can learn what services and legal resources exist in your area by reaching out to HILSC or Neighborhood Centers. If you work in business, education, or a nonprofit, you can look into how your organization can partner with or support Welcoming Houston efforts. Understanding the economic data behind this initiative also helps you speak confidently about the real contributions immigrants make to Houston.
No fixed date
Not location-specific
This initiative connects to broader conversations about affordable housing, workforce development, language access in schools, and public safety trust — topics that affect every Houston neighborhood. If you care about economic equity or community health in Houston, Welcoming Houston is a relevant touchstone.
Houston is one of the most diverse cities in the country. At the time of this initiative, foreign-born residents made up about a quarter of the population and contributed roughly $116.5 billion to the regional economy. They were also twice as likely as U.S.-born residents to own their own businesses. Leaders recognized that welcoming immigrants and refugees well is not just the right thing to do — it strengthens Houston for everyone.
