Austin History of The Settlement Home
Throughout our history, The Settlement Home for Children has established a reputation as one of the premiere children’s agencies in Texas.
1916 – 12 Austin women start the Girls’ Settlement Home at 304 E. 1st Street, a day nursery for impoverished working families.
1918 – The Girls’ Settlement Club holds its first Charity Ball.
1919 – Club purchases home at 1201 E. 2nd St. and serves 30 children.
1920’s – Members of the Club petition to start The Junior League of Austin and construct a new facility at 504 W. 37th St.
1930’s – The Settlement Home becomes one of the first children’s homes in Texas to be licensed by the Department of Public Welfare. The Home expands to include a program for boys.
1940’s – The Settlement Club is instrumental in creating the agency which evolved into Child and Family Services.
1950’s – The Austin Lion’s Club finances expansion of The Home. The Settlement Club is influential in launching Austin’s Community Chest, now known as the United Way of the Capital Area.
1960’s – The Junior League of Austin and the Hogg Foundation provide funds for The Settlement Home to hire its first full-time Executive Director. As The Settlement Club celebrates its 50th anniversary, the membership purchases 10.13 acres on Payton Gin Road to establish our current campus.
1970’s – The first annual Settlement Home Charity Garage Sale is held and the Austin Chamber of Commerce nominates The Settlement Club for the National Volunteer Award. The campus expands to include an Activity Building dedicated by the First Lady of Texas.
1980’s – The Settlement Club purchases its first off-campus group home and is honored by the Austin Child Guidance Center with the Children’s Service Award.
1990’s – As The Settlement Club marks its 75th anniversary, a Recreation Building and on-campus lending library open. The Home is honored by Texas Department of Protective and Regulatory Services with The Children’s Advocacy Award. The Home expands its continuum of care and establishes a Therapeutic Foster Home Program.
2000’s – A major campus renovation and expansion is completed. Construction includes an Education Building, Dining Room expansion, a new on-campus group home, the purchase of another off-campus group home, the renovation of our activity building, main building and 3 on-campus residential treatment cottages. The Settlement Home, in conjunction with The University of Texas, opens an on-campus school for children unable to function in a public school setting. A very special Settlement Home Foster Family is named State of Texas’ Foster Parents of the Year and an employee at The Settlement Home is selected as Child Care Worker of the Year for the State of Texas.