Benefits · Nutrition
How to apply for Harris County Area Agency on Aging — Title III Senior Nutrition + In-Home Services
Harris County Area Agency on Aging — administered by the Houston Health Department (HHD) under the federal Older Americans Act Title III; serves Harris County seniors age 60+ and their caregivers; established 1977; distinct from the Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC) AAA which serves 13 surrounding counties (Austin, Brazoria, Chambers, Colorado, Fort Bend, Galveston, Liberty, Matagorda, Montgomery, Walker, Waller, Wharton)
Who it's for
The Harris County Area Agency on Aging is the federally-designated Area Agency on Aging serving Harris County under the Older Americans Act Title III, established in 1977. It is administered by the Houston Health Department rather than by a regional Council of Governments — Harris County is one of the few Texas counties whose AAA is operated directly by a city/county health department rather than a regional Council of Governments. Importantly, Harris County is NOT served by the Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC) AAA — H-GAC's AAA covers 13 surrounding counties (Austin, Brazoria, Chambers, Colorado, Fort Bend, Galveston, Liberty, Matagorda, Montgomery, Walker, Waller, Wharton) but Harris has its own dedicated AAA. Harris County AAA's Title III nutrition program distributes close to 1.5 million meals annually through a network of community-based agencies: (1) Congregate meals are served Monday-Friday between 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. at local community and senior centers across Houston and unincorporated Harris County; (2) Home-Delivered Meals are weekly well-balanced meals delivered to homebound, elderly, and/or disabled adults age 60+. Additional services include information and referral, Medicare counseling (via the Texas SHIP program), transportation assistance, legal assistance, respite care for caregivers, and benefits counseling. Call 832-393-4301 for nutrition program intake or visit houstonhealth.org/services/aging.
Harris County's AAA structure is DISTINCTIVE in Texas — it is operated by the Houston Health Department rather than by the Houston-Galveston Area Council of Governments (which would be the regional pattern). This distinction matters operationally: Harris County seniors call houston-Health-Department-AAA at 832-393-4301; Fort Bend, Montgomery, Galveston, and 10 other surrounding-county seniors call H-GAC AAA at a different number. The Harris County AAA congregate meal network is sized for Houston's large senior population (~600K seniors in Harris County) — local meal sites have varying capacity and waitlists. Home-delivered meals require documented homebound status — a senior who could attend a congregate site may be steered there for community engagement benefits. For Title III transportation assistance, coordinate with METRO senior fare (tx.harris.metro_senior_fare_and_metrolift). Texas's Community Care Services Program (formerly CCAD — see future tx.ccsp state-level record) provides additional in-home services parallel to AAA Title III.
What you'll need
- Proof of age 60+ (Texas driver's license, Texas ID, Medicare card, or birth certificate)
- Proof of Harris County residency (utility bill, lease, or government correspondence)
- For home-delivered meals: documentation of homebound status (illness, disability, or isolation)
- For congregate meals at AAA-contracted local sites: ambulatory mobility to attend
- For other in-home services: case manager assessment + income documentation for sliding-scale sponsorship determination
Where to apply
Apply online: official application
By phone: 832-393-4301
Renewals
annual reassessment by AAA case manager; meals continue without interruption pending recertification
Not sure if you qualify? Run a free check first.
Find my benefitsNot legal or financial advice. The agency makes the final eligibility decision.