Boat People SOS-Houston (BPSOS)

Since 1980, Vietnamese Americans who understood the journey of building a new life in America created Boat People SOS-Houston.

About

Available In:
EnglishFrenchHindiMandarin (Chinese)SpanishThaiVietnamese

Since 1980, Vietnamese Americans who understood the journey of building a new life in America created Boat People SOS-Houston. They wanted to help other immigrant families navigate their new home while keeping their cultural traditions strong. Over more than 40 years, this small group has grown into a trusted community organization that serves families across Houston.

Every person deserves help that respects their culture and speaks their language – this belief guides everything Boat People SOS-Houston does. They provide services that help community members feel confident and empowered in their daily lives. Moving to a new country brings both challenges and opportunities, and they work to help people navigate American systems while keeping their dignity and cultural identity.

Families who need support with legal questions, health care, and learning about American civic life find help at Boat People SOS-Houston. They focus especially on helping people who speak Vietnamese and other languages, and they work with families of all income levels. Their team provides caring, quality services that help people build strong foundations for their American journey while honoring where they came from.

Citizenship and Language Access Services

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Citizenship Classes
Citizenship Interview Preparation
Civics Test Preparation
Document Review
Fee Waiver Assistance
Legal Consultation
N‑400
N‑600

Additional Services

ESL classes and citizenship classes
Document review and legal consultation for naturalization
Civil legal services (IOLTA Program)
Crime victims legal services (domestic violence, human trafficking, assault, battery)
Domestic violence and human trafficking support (safety planning, crisis counseling, victim advocacy)
Legal Service Center (reduced-cost immigration, family, estate planning services)
Immigrant Resource Hotline
Health cancer screenings (breast, colon, cervical, Hepatitis C)
Healthcare enrollment assistance (ACA, Medicaid, Medicare, CHIP, SNAP)
Mobile wellness screenings and workshops
Civic engagement and voter education (GOTV)
Senior services (group gatherings, Tai Chi classes, field trips, healthcare support)
Disaster relief and recovery services
Translation and interpretation services

Testimonials

"Today, I had the pleasure of meeting Michelle, and I was truly moved by her warmth and compassion. She was incredibly kind, supportive, and genuinely helpful. From the moment I walked in, I felt a sense of safety and belonging, it felt like home." "Ms. Michelle and Ms. Jackie, helped my mother in-law prepare and apply for US citizenship, both follow up every single process. My mother in-law was able to get approved for examination with out taking the test. Thank you for all your hard work"

"I was definitely impressed when I learned that boat people are basically offering free immigration lawyer services. You can't really get much better than that. I don't know how they're offering them for free, but they should be commended for it, and it's hard not to give them five stars considering how much I paid for these services in the past and how much less they charge here." "BPSOS provides excellent legal services to its clients, and offers other assistance to the Houston community. They help anyone regardless of their nationality when it comes to applying for US citizenship, health and wellness programs, youth development, senior assistance, and much more."