Boat People SOS: Houston

Boat People SOS (BPSOS) - Houston is a non-profit social and legal services provider whose purpose is to empower, organize, and equip immigrant communities in their pursuit of liberty and dignity. Our branch provides education, information, and direct assistance to immigrant and refugee families on potential health and legal issues prevalent in the immigrant communities.

BPSOS services range from health awareness prevention programs, legal services for low-income families and victims of violence and crime, ESL, citizenship, and digital literacy classes, senior services programs to encourage community engagement, advocacy, and volunteerism.

Programs

We offer the below programs and services to support our community members with their needs and empower them in their everyday life.

Citizenship & Naturalization Services

Citizenship & Naturalization Services

 BPSOS - Citizenship Program provides a culturally and linguistically specialized curriculum and instructor-led classroom environment for adults to prepare for their U.S. Citizenship and Naturalization examination, develop civic skills, or improve their English as Second Language (ESL) proficiency.  Classes are available during the weekday evenings and on Saturdays. To get more information on class times and availability, please text in English, Vietnamese, or Spanish to Deily Navas at (281) 826-9870 or call our front office at (281) 530-6888. 

“My I-751 and N-400 [were] approved from USCIS because I got help from BPSOS-Houston. I want to thank you for all the efforts you put for helping me in this difficult lengthy process. At one point I was so depressed that my immigration process will never end. I was unaware of any legal procedures of this country … I want to give all the credits of solving my immigration cases to BPSOS-Houston.”

- Seema A., from India

Interest on Lawyers’ Trust Accounts (IOLTA) Program

Interest on Lawyers’ Trust Accounts (IOLTA) Program

Interest on Lawyers’ Trust Accounts (IOLTA) Program provides meaningful access to high quality, civil legal services that are culturally-sensitive and linguistically-appropriate to low-income individuals in Harris and surrounding counties whose annual household income is no more than 125% of federal poverty guideline.  The IOLTA program assists with obtaining immigration benefits and resolving many kinds of civil legal issues.  

“Provided a cost savings of over $16,457 for low-income clients through requests for fee waivers and affidavits of indigency.”

Funded by: Texas Access to Justice Foundation

Crime Victims Civil Legal Services (CVCLS) Program

Crime Victims Civil Legal Services (CVCLS) Program

Crime Victims Civil Legal Services (CVCLS) Program serves victims of crime whose annual household income is no more than 187.5% of federal poverty guideline including domestic violence, human trafficking, assault, battery, and other crimes through compassion and diligence. Services under CVCLS program cover wide areas of law, including immigration and family law.   

“BPSOS-Houston helped me file for divorce. They also provided counseling for me and got me full custody of my two sons. Because of the generosity and help of BPSOS-Houston I am able to move past the violence committed against me and start new.”

- Minh M., from Vietnam

Funded by: Texas Access to Justice Foundation

Domestic Violence and Human Trafficking (CJD) Program

Domestic Violence and Human Trafficking (CJD) Program

CJD Program protects and empowers survivors of family violence and human trafficking by providing safety planning, shelter relocation, crisis counseling, assistance obtaining orders of protection, victim advocacy and accompaniment, interpretation and translation, and provides direct legal representation.  The CJD program addresses victim restoration, protection, and prevention through culturally and linguistically appropriate case management, advocacy, outreach, and legal representation for immigrant victims of crime.

“BPSOS-Houston’s legal team has helped me get my green card and my VAWA case has been approved. From the bottom of my heart, I thank BPSOS-Houston for all their work they have done to help me. I am finally free, because of them.”

- Riya K, from India

Funded by: The Criminal Justice Division of the Office of the Governor

Legal Service Center

Legal Service Center

Service Center provides individuals who do not qualify for free services through grants with civil legal assistance at a greatly reduced cost on matters including immigration, family, estate planning, and translation.            

“I fled Iran as a refugee. It was a pleasure to receive my green card today, and I want to thank BPSOS-Houston for everything BPSOS-Houston did for me.”

- Daria H., from Iran

Self-Funded by Fees for Services

Immigrant Resource Hotline

Immigrant Resource Hotline

 Immigrant Resource Hotline is a source of timely and accurate information about changing immigration policies and a source for referrals to legal services providers and immigrant rights organizers. The hotline is staffed by non-profit staff who are part of the Houston Immigration Legal Services Collaborative. 

Partners: The Hotline is a project of the Houston Immigration Legal Services Collaborative, Boat People SOS, BakerRipley, Catholic Charities Cabrini Center, Houston Galveston Immigrant Representation Project (GHIRP), and Memorial Assistance Ministries (MAM).

Health Awareness & Promotion Program (HAPP)

Health Awareness & Promotion Program (HAPP)

HAPP-Cancer screens for breast, colon, cervical cancer, and Hepatitis C. HAPP-Access to Healthcare helps enroll in ACA, Medicaid, Medicare, CHIP, and SNAP. HAPP-Mobile Wellness conducts monthly screenings and workshops for Asians in southeast Houston. HAPP-Wellness Screening available second Wednesdays at BPSOS-Houston.

Funded by: Cancer Prevention & Research Institute of Texas & Episcopal Health Foundation, Centers for Medicaid Medicare Services

Get Out To Vote (GOTV)

Get Out To Vote (GOTV)

Get Out To Vote (GOTV) is aimed at increasing civic and electoral participation within the Vietnamese and AAPI community by implementing a nonpartisan program to educate and mobilize the community.

“I know it's my duty to voice my needs along with the community. I am grateful to BPSOS-Houston for being able to take me to the polling location in this joint effort to make our voices heard.”

- The Minh N., from Vietnam

Funded by: ECI, Houston In Action

Senior Services

Senior Services

Senior Services assist those over the age of 60 adopt and maintain a healthy lifestyle, BPSOS-Houston senior services provide a full range of linguistically and culturally competent services including:

  • Senior group gathering meets every Friday from 10am -12pm

  • Weekly Tai Chi classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10am to 12pm.

  • Field Trips to attractions and volunteer opportunities at local events.

Healthcare support, legal support, and more.

Funded by: Houston Methodist

Disaster Relief and Recovery Services

Disaster Relief and Recovery Services

Disaster Relief and Recovery Services provides help, support, and advocacy for survivors of natural disasters by offering case management services including benefits assistance, housing assistance and referrals, legal assistance, and direct emergency assistance.     

Impact

In the past year, BPSOS-Houston’s legal program has been able to provide services to:

200+

applicants for naturalization through the Citizenship Program.

177+

low-income individuals through the IOLTA program

255+

low-income victims of crime through the CVCLS program

190+

adult and 138 child victims of domestic violence through the CJD program

123+

clients with low-cost legal services through the Service Center

$16,457+

Provided in cost savings for low-income clients through requests for fee waivers and affidavits of indigency

Events & Updates

2nd Tuesday Health & Wellness

2nd Tuesday of the Month

10AM - 12PM

event description

Free Citizenship Workshops

Monthly Mondays

10AM - 4PM

event description

event description

 

Senior Program Meetings

Every Friday

9AM - 12PM

Contact →

Contact & Location

BPSOS - Houston

Phone: 281-530-6888

Fax: 281-530-6838

11360 Bellaire Blvd.

Ste. 910

Houston, TX 77072

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Branch Supporters

BPSOS Houston

  • Texas Access to Justice Foundation

  • The Criminal Justice Division of the Office of the Governor

  • USCIS - Citizenship & Integration Program

  • Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

  • Asian Americans Advancing Justice

  • Episcopal Health Foundation

  • Houston Endowment, Inc

  • Houston Immigration Legal Services

  • New American Campaign

  • TX CEAL

  • Greater Houston Community Foundation

  • The Empowering Communities Initiative

  • Cancer Prevention & Research Institute of Texas

  • Comcast NBC Universal

  • American Red Cross

  • East West Bank

  • Houston Methodist

  • ECI, APIAVote

Staff

BPSOS Houston

Image of Jannette Diep

Jannette Diep

Executive Director, DOJ-Accredited Representative

Image of Trish Nguyen

Trish Nguyen

Branch Manager

Image of Theresa Thomas, Esq.

Theresa Thomas, Esq.

Legal Services Manager

Image of Felix Park, Esq.

Felix Park, Esq.

Staff Attorney

Image of Ngoc Huynh

Ngoc Huynh

Paralegal, DOJ-Accredited Representative

Image of Edith Harrison

Edith Harrison

Paralegal, DOJ-Accredited Representative

Image of Hien Nguyen

Hien Nguyen

Paralegal

Image of Michelle Tran

Michelle Tran

Domestic Violence and Human Trafficking Case Manager

Image of Jackie Benitez

Jackie Benitez

Citizenship Coordinator/Hotline

Image of Deily Navas

Deily Navas

Citizenship Program Coordinator, DOJ-Accredited Representative

Image of Van Trinh

Van Trinh

Civic Engagement Coordinator

Image of Nancy Le

Nancy Le

HAPP Enrollment Coordinator

Image of Quan Tran

Quan Tran

HAPP Program Coordinator

Image of Huong Lan Tran

Huong Lan Tran

HAPP Program Coordinator

Image of Sara Nguyen

Sara Nguyen

HAPP Program Coordinator

Image of MinhNguyet Doan

MinhNguyet Doan

Receptionist

Image of Duyen Nguyen

Duyen Nguyen

HAPP Enrollment Coordinator

Image of Hannah Nguyen

Hannah Nguyen

HAPP Enrollment Coordinator

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