Yale Street Community Empowerment Center
Yale Street Community Empowerment Center and Recovery Support Services Center
4808 Yale Street, Houston, TX 77018 PH:713-460-0781
Volunteers of America Texas, Inc. (VOATX) is a
faithbased, nonprofit organization committed to serving
people in need, strengthening families, and building
communities. The Yale Street Community
Empowerment Center provides community residents
with access to a variety of services to improve their
quality of life and develop new skills for healthy living.
In addition, the Recovery Support Services Center at
Yale supports women in recovery with maintaining
long term sobriety and improving their quality of life
so that they may achieve healthy and stable lives,
families and futures. Services include:
Local Initiative Support Corporation Financial Opportunity Center
Opening in March 2011, the LISC 
Financial Opportunity Center will assist Independence Heights families and families
transitioning from VOA housing and treatment programs to build income and assets so that they may achieve financial stability. Funded in part through the LISC Social Innovation Fund and United Way of Greater Houston THRIVE, services include:
Financial literacy education
- Financial coaching services
- Assistance with improving credit scores
- Benefits screening and application assistance
- Employment preparation assistance and training
Vocational training programs
VOA Community Garden
Opening Spring 2011, the VOA Community Garden will provide Independence Heights
Residents with a beautiful setting in which to grow fresh produce. The Community Garden
will increase availability of healthy foods and educate residents about healthy eating habits.
Renewed Vision Eye Clinic and Job Training Program
Opening Spring 2011, the VOA Eye Clinic
provides affordable vision care for the Independence Heights
Community. Through the Vision Pass program, we provide
free eye exams and low cost glasses to clients of VOA and
other church and community service providers to ensure
that everyone in need has the ability to see. In addition to
primary vision care, the Renewed Vision Eye Clinic provides
employment training to women from VOA to assist them
with obtaining jobs in the optometric field. Skills learned
include optometric retail sales and office management,
optical technician skills, and eyeglass manufacturing. VOA
provides services through a partnership with Visual Compassion, Inc.
VOA Resale Shop and Retail Training Program
ServicOpening Fall 2011, the VOA Resale Shop will offer affordable clothing and household items to residents of Independence Heights. Vouchers will be available for clients needing financial assistance for purchasing their items. The Retail Training Program will assist both women in recovery and clients with intellectual disabilities in developing skills needed to secure employment in a retail environment.
Services for Individuals with Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities
The Life Enrichment Center at Yale
offers a wide 
range of programs and activities designed to support
participants based upon their needs, interests, and strengths. Our modules
are tailored to fit every individual’s age and skill level with meaningful
activities and promote self-determination.
Prevention and Youth Services
- The CAN-DO Program (Community and Neighborhood Drug Offensive) teaches healthy decision making skills and drug prevention education for inner city and at-risk children at various elementary schools and community sites.
- The Strengthening Families Program (SFP) provides support to both parents and
children ages 6-12 to help them improve communication skills and bonding so that
family functioning is optimized and parents are better able to protect their children
from alcohol and drug use.
The Nurturing Parent program provides parenting education for parents of young
children and is approved by CPS as meeting their parenting requirements.
The Volunteers of America Texas Action Team, in partnership with the Major League
Baseball Player’s Trust and Volunteers of America Inc, promotes community
involvement and leadership potential among high school students through interaction
with major league baseball players and Volunteers of America's service programs.