Right now, across Montgomery and Harris Counties, families are standing at a crossroads. On one side: the weight of generational poverty, limited opportunities, and systems that weren’t built for them. On the other: a workforce desperate for skilled workers, offering family-sustaining wages, and training programs that won’t bury them in debt.
The gap between those two realities? It’s narrower than you think. And for the families we serve at the AIW Foundation—especially those navigating foster care, homelessness, or the aftermath of trauma—closing that gap isn’t just about getting a job. It’s about reclaiming power over their futures.
Texas Is Hiring—But Not Everyone Knows the Door Is Open
Let’s talk numbers. Texas employs more than 212,000 truck drivers, the most of any state in the nation. Electricians are in constant demand due to major construction projects booming across the state, with strong job security and high pay. The rapid growth of industrial developments is fueling demand for pipefitters—especially in Texas, where semiconductor businesses, manufacturers, and automakers have quickly moved in.
These aren’t just jobs. They’re careers. The kind that don’t require a four-year degree but do require grit, training, and someone who believes you can do it. Texas ranks among the top states for employment in construction and skilled trades. Yet too many of the young people we work with have never been told this pathway exists.
That’s the cruel irony: while employers scramble to fill openings, thousands of young adults aging out of foster care or trying to support their families are told the only route to stability is a traditional college—a route many can’t afford, don’t want, or weren’t prepared for.
The Hidden Lifeline: Tuition Waivers That Cover Trade Schools
Here’s something most people don’t know: The State College Tuition and Fee Waiver is a state law that exempts or waives payment of tuition and fees at state-supported colleges or universities in Texas for foster youth currently or formerly in the conservatorship of DFPS and for those adopted from DFPS.
But it’s not just universities. Eligible students can attend any Texas state-supported colleges and universities, including public technical institutes. That means welding programs. HVAC certifications. Diesel mechanic training. Dental assisting. Cybersecurity boot camps. All of it—covered.
You must have enrolled in a state supported college or university before your 27th birthday. For adopted youth under certain circumstances, there is no age limit for the student to enroll in a college or university. And yet, so many young people we encounter have never heard of this waiver. They don’t know they qualify. They don’t know how to apply. They don’t know it could change everything.
That’s where we come in.
Workforce Training as a Form of Justice
The AIW Foundation doesn’t just hand out resources—we walk alongside families to help them see what’s possible. When a young mother who aged out of foster care learns she can train as a medical assistant without taking on debt, that’s not charity. That’s justice. When a young man with a history of homelessness discovers he can earn while he learns through a Registered Apprenticeship, earning a competitive wage and gaining on-the-job experience while earning an industry-recognized credential, that’s not a handout. That’s dignity.
WIOA requires Boards to target high-growth, high-demand and emerging occupations. Translation? The state is investing in training for jobs that actually exist—jobs in healthcare, IT, construction, and advanced manufacturing. Texas Workforce Commission has partnered with Metrix Learning to provide online skills training and industry certifications to residents across the state. That means if you’re a single parent working night shifts, you can still gain skills on your own time.
This is what economic freedom looks like in practice. Not a vague promise, but a concrete plan: six months of training, a certification, a living wage, and the ability to provide for your children without relying on a system that was never designed to support you long-term.
What Harris and Montgomery Counties Are Doing Right
Our community isn’t sitting still. Lone Star College-Montgomery is available to help businesses with all their workforce training needs, with customized corporate training available via Lone Star Corporate College. Workforce Solutions partners with organizations like the Houston Food Bank, addressing barriers such as food insecurity for customers looking for work or training for a career.
We’ve seen firsthand how these partnerships change lives. A teenager in a group home learns about allied health pathways and suddenly has a vision for her future. A young man we’ve been working with for two years enrolls in a welding program and, for the first time, talks about buying a house one day. These aren’t fantasies—they’re plans. And they’re happening because someone took the time to connect the dots.
The Roadblocks We’re Still Fighting
But let’s be honest: the system is still failing too many people. Awareness is abysmal. Navigation is complicated. And for a young person who’s been told their entire life they’re not college material, the idea of walking into a workforce center and asking for help can feel impossible.
There’s also the question of soft skills and stability. You can train someone to be an excellent HVAC technician, but if they don’t have reliable transportation, childcare, or a safe place to sleep, that certification isn’t going to translate into employment. That’s why our model at the AIW Foundation integrates trauma-focused counseling, life skills training, and direct material support. You can’t separate workforce development from whole-person care.
What You Can Do
If you’re reading this, you care. That’s the first step. But caring without action doesn’t move the needle. Here’s how you can be part of the solution:
- Spread the word. Share this information with teachers, caseworkers, mentors, and anyone who works with at-risk youth. Most people simply don’t know these resources exist.
- Hire differently. If you own a business or manage hiring, consider offering apprenticeships or on-the-job training. Partner with local workforce programs. Give someone a chance who doesn’t have a perfect resume but has the hunger to learn.
- Support organizations doing the work. The AIW Foundation is on the ground every day, connecting young people to these opportunities. We can’t do it without community backing.
- Advocate for policy changes. Push for expanded eligibility, better outreach, and more funding for trade training programs that serve vulnerable populations.
A Future Built on Skills, Not Luck
Economic freedom isn’t a privilege—it’s a right. Every young person, regardless of where they started, deserves the chance to build a stable, fulfilling life. Trade certifications and workforce training aren’t just about filling jobs. They’re about breaking cycles. They’re about a young woman who thought she’d never escape poverty realizing she can support her children. They’re about a young man who spent his teenage years in the system discovering that he’s good at something—and that people will pay him well for it.
The workforce crisis in Texas is real. But so is the talent sitting untapped in our communities. We’ve helped over 1,300 children so far, and we’re not stopping. Because as adults, we’re responsible for empowering the voices of children and meeting their needs—not just with words, but with pathways to real, lasting change.
The door is open. Let’s make sure everyone knows how to walk through it.