Project Vida - TX - El Paso

The mission of Project Vida is to identify the comprehensive vision of the community for its future and to develop community-based structures and programs to implement that vision in light of the needs and direction of the wider society.

Project Vida began in 1991 in a small adobe home in the Chamizal neighborhood of south-central El Paso. Organizers wanted to know what people in the neighborhood felt they needed to help them improve their lives, and Community Congresses were held to help determine those needs. A Community Congress is a citizen-driven event where participants determine what they need as a community and how they believe that can be achieved. From those events, it was determined that the community wanted to address education; healthcare; affordable housing; gang prevention; homelessness; and later, the needs of small business owners.

 Since those early days, Project Vida has addressed all of these issues by developing a  best practice, curriculum-based early childhood education program; building clinicsand providing high quality, low cost primary and integrated behavioral healthcare; building affordable low-income rental housing; offering a dynamic after-school enrichment program as a gang prevention strategy; creating homelessness prevention and recovery programs; and providing microenterprise technical assistance and support.  

• Best practices, curriculum-based early childhood development, early childhood education, child care and parenting education programs

• No-cost After-school Enrichment and Youth Development program including assistance with homework, literacy and reading programs, computer and internet instruction, structured play, arts and crafts, field trips, community service activities and intergenerational mentoring. A College Readiness program targets middle and high school students with presentations and information on career options, financial aid, and field trips to local campuses

• 13 clinics and facilities in El Paso and Hudspeth Counties offering high quality, low-cost primary health care for all ages including pediatric care, dental care, LGBTQ care, women’s health and more. All clinical services are integrated with behavioral health screening, counseling and referrals as needed. Substance abuse program includes Peer Recovery coaching and support.

• Outreach and wellness education including the curriculum-based Diabetes Self-Management Program, Healthy Cooking classes, physical activities, teen wellness programs and more

• 355 dwelling units throughout the city providing affordable low-income rental housing

• Homelessness prevention and recovery programs through 3 months’ rent and utility payments, rapid re-housing to avoid long-term homelessness for families already and permanent supportive housing as needed.

• Technical assistance and support for qualifying microenterprise owners to help stabilize, strengthen and grow their micro-businesses, helping retain their own jobs and creating jobs for others.