Enhancing the health, education, and social well-being of low-income and underserved people in the greater Houston metropolitan area through its many health care programs, training programs and community service programs, including the provision of safe, decent and affordable housing for low-income families.

Community Profile

The 2000 U.S. Census states that approximately 118,000 Asians are living in the city of Houston, making it one of the largest Asian populations in the U.S. The Houston area also has the second largest Vietnamese population in the country. Asian-American residents in Harris County demonstrated a population increase of 75.7%, exceeding the 73.5% increase in the county’s Hispanic population. Even though 20% of the population in the Alief area are Asian-Americans, 10% of the total population are Vietnamese-Americans. Therefore, the area’s Vietnamese-American population recorded the most rapid growth. VNTW Center, located in Alief – the heart of the Vietnamese-American population – has more than 100 volunteers along with 20 staff members and serves almost 18,000 people (4,500 receive direct program services, 6,300 walk-ins, and 7,000 call-ins) in the greater Houston area per year. The majority of the population benefiting from VNTW services is non-English speaking people with limited resources. The income of those served ranges from low-income to moderate-income, including recent immigrants, refugees, evacuees recently relocated to Houston, senior residents, and individuals who have recently been out of work due to the downsizing of business corporations.