Greater Houston Citizenship Project: Learning Brief

Houston Endowment launched the Greater Houston Citizenship Project (GHCP) in 2023 to better understand the barriers facing lawful permanent residents who are eligible to become U.S. citizens. Using a human-centered design approach, the initiative brought together residents, nonprofit organizations, civic leaders, and other partners to co-design and test new approaches to citizenship support.

During the six-month pilot period, GHCP helped 351 eligible residents take steps toward citizenship, with 99% of participants reporting satisfaction with the program. The initiative also strengthened the capacity of participating organizations, encouraged greater collaboration across Houston’s citizenship ecosystem, and demonstrated the importance of incorporating community feedback throughout program design and implementation.

This learning brief, adapted from an evaluation conducted by Grassroots Solutions, shares lessons from the project and practical guidance for organizations using human-centered design to address complex community challenges. Key lessons include investing in community engagement and organizational capacity, positioning residents as decision-makers, strengthening collaboration, designing programs to adapt over time, and planning for sustainability from the outset.