HARRIS COUNTY, TX, August 22, 2025 – Judge Lina Hidalgo joined local officials today to celebrate the opening of the new $41 million Houston Alumni & Youth (HAY) Center Campus, the only facility of its kind in Texas designed to provide wraparound services and housing for youth aging out of foster care.
Photo Courtesy of the Office of Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo
Harris County invested $32 million into the project through a combination of grant funding, American Rescue Plan Act funds, and general funds. The city of Houston contributed $5 million, while private philanthropists donated $4 million.
“The HAY Center is such a special place. Being able to give at-risk kids housing stability gives them the freedom to pursue the future that they want, whether that’s school or working. I’m so proud today to be able to celebrate the great future that every level of government in our community is helping these young people build,” Judge Hidalgo said.
Each year, about 40 foster youth in the Harris County region—which includes Harris County and 12 other surrounding counties—are at risk of becoming homeless on their 18th birthday. Previously, the HAY Center could house only 8 to 10 people annually. With the opening of the new campus, the center can now accommodate up to 50 individuals for several years at a time, significantly expanding its ability to meet the need for former foster youth housing.
The HAY Center is a public-private partnership and a program of Harris County Resources for Children and Adults. Since 2005, it has served youth and young adults ages 14 through 25 who are in or have aged out of foster care. In 2015, the HAY Center Foundation, a 501(c)(3), was established to support its mission. Over the past 20 years, thousands of young people have received services ranging from life skills training and education support to employment, housing, mental health resources, and mentoring, all designed around their individual needs and guided by youth voices.
