Urban League Of Portland

TO HELP EMPOWER AFRICAN AMERICANS AND OTHERS ACHIEVE EQUALITY IN EDUCATION, EMPLOYMENT, AND ECONOMIC SECURITY.

HOUSING AND OUTREACH ASSISTANCE - THE URBAN LEAGUE OF PORTLAND HOUSING PROGRAMS PROVIDE OUTREACH, ASSESSMENT AND SUPPORT SERVICES FOR THOSE WHO ARE HOMELESS OR AT IMMINENT RISK OF BECOMING HOMELESS. THROUGH OUR STREET OUTREACH PROGRAMS, THE LEAGUE IDENTIFIES AND BUILDS RAPPORT WITH INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES WHO ARE EXPERIENCING CHRONIC HOMELESSNESS AND ARE IN NEED OF INTENSIVE SERVICES TO HAVE ACCESS TO SAFE HOUSING. AMONG THE SERVICES PROVIDED ARE INFORMATION AND REFERRAL SERVICES, FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE WITH HOUSING COSTS, ACCESS TO TRANSPORTATION, FOOD, AND IDENTIFICATION. WE OFFER PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING AND HOUSING PLACEMENT SERVICES FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE CHRONICALLY HOMELESS TO FIND SAFE, STABLE AND PERMANENTLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING. THE LEAGUE ALSO WORKS TO HELP PREVENT EVICTION, PROVIDE RENT ASSISTANCE, MEDIATE TENANT-LANDLORD DISPUTES, SECURE STABLE HOUSING, AND MORE. WE OFFER LONG TERM WRAPAROUND SERVICES TO HELP PEOPLE WORK THROUGH INDIVIDUAL CHALLENGES THAT CAN THREATEN THEIR HOUSING, SUCH AS SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS, INCARCERATION, OR UNEMPLOYMENT, TO REMAIN SAFE AND STABLE IN THEIR HOMES.

COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS & HEALTHY FAMILIES - THE URBAN LEAGUE IS WORKING TO BUILD THE WORKFORCE OF COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS THROUGHOUT THE STATE, AND TO MORE FULLY INTEGRATE THEM INTO HEALTH CARE TEAMS TO ENSURE HIGH-QUALITY, CULTURALLY COMPETENT CARE TO TRADITIONALLY UNDER-SERVED BLACK POPULATIONS WITHIN AN INTEGRATED AND COORDINATED HEALTH CARE, EDUCATION, AND SOCIAL SERVICE SYSTEM. COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS (CHW'S) ARE TRUSTED COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO PROMOTE HEALTH IN THEIR OWN COMMUNITIES AND WHO BRIDGE THE GAPS BETWEEN COMMUNITIES AND SOCIAL SYSTEMS. URBAN LEAGUE CHW'S MAKE IMPORTANT CONTRIBUTIONS TO PREVENTING DISEASE AND PROMOTING HEALTH VIA EDUCATION AND SELF-MANAGEMENT, AND BY INCREASING ACCESS TO CARE THROUGH HEALTH INSURANCE OUTREACH AND ENROLLMENT. OUR FAMILY ADVOCATE CHW'S ARE HELPING EMPOWER FAMILIES TO SELF-ADVOCATE, AND DECREASING HEALTH AND EDUCATIONAL DISPARITIES BY DIRECTLY ADDRESSING SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH AND EDUCATIONAL ACHIEVEMENT. OUR COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS HELP COMMUNITY MEMBERS NAVIGATE AND ACCESS A WIDE VARIETY OF COMMUNITY RESOURCES INCLUDING HEALTH INSURANCE NAVIGATION, PARENT AND CHILD EDUCATION, STABLE HOUSING, AND HIV TESTING AND EDUCATION. ADDITIONALLY OUR CHW'S PROVIDE ACCESS TO RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES AND CREATIVE ARTS AND MUSIC WORKSHOPS THAT HELP DEVELOP CULTURAL PRIDE, WHILE ALSO PROMOTING INCLUSIVITY.

WORKFORCE AND YOUTH SERVICES - THE URBAN LEAGUE'S WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS WORK TO INCREASE EMPLOYMENT FOR AFRICAN AMERICANS AND OTHERS TO ENHANCE THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE BY OFFERING COMPREHENSIVE JOB TRAINING AND PLACEMENT SERVICES. WITH AN EXPANDING WORKFORCE DEPARTMENT, THE LEAGUE CONTINUES TO FIND EMPLOYMENT FOR PROFESSIONALS AND EXECUTIVES, THOSE IN THE TRADE AND SKILLED LABOR MARKETS, IN ADDITION TO ENTRY-LEVEL INDIVIDUALS AND STUDENTS, AS IT HAS SUCCESSFULLY DONE FOR THE LAST SIX DECADES. THE LEAGUE ALSO PROVIDES JOB-RELATED EVENTS, SUCH AS ITS CAREER CONNECTIONS JOB FAIR, HELD ANNUALLY AND FOR OVER THIRTY YEARS. THE URBAN LEAGUE PROVIDES A SUMMER YOUTH EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES JOB READINESS TRAINING ON FUNDAMENTAL SKILLS REQUIRED TO OBTAIN AND MAINTAIN EMPLOYMENT. SEPARATE PROGRAMS ARE DESIGNED FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS, AS WELL AS A HIGH SCHOOL, AND A YOUNG ADULTS PROGRAM. AS PART OF THIS PROGRAM, PARTICIPANTS GO ON SITE VISITS TO LOCAL EMPLOYERS AND HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS. THE LEAGUE, IN CONJUNCTION WITH PORTLAND PUBLIC SCHOOLS, PROVIDES AN AFTER SCHOOL LEADERSHIP PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES EXTRACURRICULAR SUPPORT TO MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TO PROMOTE ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT AND POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION.