The Houston Area Urban League (HAUL) was established in the Summer of 1968 by a group of professional men affiliated with the Houston Business and Professional Men’s Club. The primary reason for the development of such a program was to provide the much-needed economic assistance and job resources to the African-American community. The Houston Area Urban League focused on two major program objectives – Employment and Economic Development and Health, Welfare and Housing. In its first year, the newly formed League also addressed the issues of voter registration, job training and youth educational services.

The Houston Area Urban League has a long and distinguished record as an agency that offers tangible, lasting benefits to all members of the community, without regard to age, sex, race, physical limitations or ethnic background. It is a non-profit, community-based United Way agency, affiliated with the National Urban League. Implementation of activities began in October 1968 under the National Urban League’s conventional structure. Local agency direction and policy are set by its Board of Directors and implemented by the President and Chief Executive Officer. Program services are provided by a staff comprised of professionals from a variety of backgrounds related to their respective program areas.

During the next 12 years, the League undertook several federally funded programs from the 140 Department of Health and Welfare and contracts with the Department of Labor to conduct job-training programs for the under-served population of Houston. These government and corporate sponsored programs offered the League an opportunity to serve more people than it had ever before. Government funding grew and cooperation between the nonprofit service agencies and the federal government expanded to new heights. In addition to government support, the Urban League began partnering with the corporate community to support the growing employment opportunities in the City.

Today, the objectives set in 1968 are still the primary focus of the Houston Area Urban League and its supporters. Three priority program areas for the 1990′s – workforce development, education, housing and community services are still moving aggressively forward, and services more than 20,000 individuals annually. The Urban League has developed several new initiatives including an additional Community Technology Center, HUD Approved mortgage counseling programs, and medical outreach. The Workforce Development Program has grown to include weekly orientation programs, an employment phone system and various career-training programs with the corporate community. In August 1999, the League was selected as one of ten AT&T Digital Campuses across the country.

This only provides a few significant examples of what the Houston Area Urban League has accomplished over the past 39 years. None of what the League does, however, would be possible without the continued understanding and support of those who share its goal of assuring that equal opportunity truly exists for every American. The Houston Area Urban League is committed and determined to deliver positive and enduring benefits to the citizens of Houston. The agency has embarked upon an aggressive campaign to insure that all Houstonians have an opportunity to participate fully in the benefits offered by the agency. We are reaching out to the community and helping people to improve their lives through employment, education and housing services.

Source: http://www.haul.org/about.htm