The National Urban League and its affiliates immediately stepped in, assisting victims with food and clothing, connecting them to vital government resources and serving as a national advocate for the hurricane's survivors.

Our own New Orleans Urban League affiliate, devastated by the hurricane and relocated temporarily to Baton Rouge, still helped over 500 victims. Urban League affiliates stepped up to the challenge, providing for the short- and long-term needs of Katrina survivors.

In 2005, they provided more than 30,000 hurricane survivors job training and employment, housing counseling and placement services, thanks in part to generous support from Citigroup, Freddie Mac and Nehemiah Foundation, among others.

The league immediately proposed its "Katrina Bill of Rights," which advocated for a 9/11-like victims compensation fund, the right of every New Orleans resident to return and rebuild, the right to vote and the first right to employment in rebuilding the Gulf Coast.

Since the disaster first struck, the league hasn't let up in its efforts to get Katrina survivors back on their feet. In 2007, the NUL called for a National Katrina Summit, lobbied for swift passage of the Gulf Coast Hurricane Housing Recovery Act and teamed up with BP to launch the Gulf Coast Economic Empowerment to connect minority contractors with rebuilding work.

For more highlights, see below:

Timeline of NUL Katrina Efforts

2005

October
NUL calls for "Katrina Bill of Rights" which becomes part of Congressional Black Caucus' rebuilding Gulf Coast legislation, and helps stop attempts by Gulf Coast contractors to evade prevailing wage requirements of the Davis Bacon Act. NUL creates Katrina fund to aid victims.

November
NUL urges FEMA to rescind order evicting 50,000 families from temporary housing. NUL's To Be Equal Column urges Americans to avoid Katrina fatigue.

December
NUL's Morial meets with President Bush to urge faster Katrina relief, building and recovery.

2006

February/March
NUL urges U.S. Attorney General to enable voting out-of-state to protect Louisiana citizens' voting rights. Advocacy efforts force Louisiana legislature to create satellite voting in 10 sites. 10,000 people march in New Orleans voter-rights rally organized by league with other civil rights organizations.

April
NUL and U.S. Dept. of Labor announce two-year, $20 million grant to expand job training, placement and educational assistance to Katrina-affected cities and other communities. UL joins with other civil rights groups to organize mayoral debates in Atlanta, Baton Rouge, Houston and New Orleans. UL demands that FEMA not revoke housing vouchers promised to Katrina victims.

May
NUL calls for independent inspection of nation's flood control systems to avert Katrina repeat in 2006 hurricane season.

August
NUL's Morial calls on political parties to hold 2008 national conventions in New Orleans. NUL Policy Institute releases report on Katrina, concluding that despite some progress in the rebuilding process, much more needed to be done.

2007

February
NUL's Morial calls for National Katrina Summit at White House to expedite Gulf Coast recovery

March
NUL urges swift passage of Gulf Coast Hurricane Housing Recovery Act

April
NUL teams up with BP to launch Gulf Coast Economic Empowerment Tour to connect minority contractors with rebuilding projects.