Providing Direct Services to Those in Need

Our local affiliates are the heartbeat of the Urban League movement. As COVID-19 has created challenges in their ability to provide direct services in-person, many of our affiliates have shifted to virtual services and found new ways to support working families during this crisis.

The Urban League of Buffalo’s Job Readiness and Financial Literacy programs are being offered over Zoom and Skype to their clients. The League’s Mentoring and Senior Multi-service group has gone virtual, too. To foster connection and emotional support, they provide Zoom bingo for the seniors and video game competitions for the mentees. Because not all their clients have or can afford the proper technology for virtual communication, the League has purchased iPads and tablets for these families so they can continue to learn and stay connected during this isolated time.

The Urban League of Southern Connecticut have moved their counseling and tutoring classes, and Small Business seminar to Zoom. If their clients do not own a tablet or computer, they use their smartphones. To ensure a smooth transition to the digital platform, they have been calling their clients to confirm they understand and are comfortable with using the new system.

The Urban League of Charlotte are conducting their Workforce and HVAC training programs on Zoom. Roughly 30-40% of their clients have had issues with accessing a laptop or having Wi-Fi. They were able to give donated laptops to three clients. They are negotiating with Spectrum about providing free Wi-Fi or giving hotspots to families during the virtual learning period.

The Urban League of Columbia South Carolina is fully operating via mail, internet, and phones. The staff is continuing to engage in recruitment, assessment, and classes through Zoom, Google Hang Out, and Skype. The League has a reputable foster care program where 200 kids are living with foster families in 13 counties. Because the staff is unable to physically meet with the kids and families once a week, they are conducting virtual meetings. For their Workforce Development program, they would like to purchase a service called Virtual Job Shadow where individuals have the opportunity to explore an industry that they may want to pursue in a career.

The Urban League of Greater Atlanta has fully transitioned to remote web-based protocol for classes, seminars, meetings, counseling/coaching, and general services for all programs: Workforce, Entrepreneurship, Youth/Yong Adult Services, Housing and Wealth Building Advocacy. They have offered guidelines online to help clients easily navigate the system whether a currently enrolled client or a new one.

The Urban League of Hartford continue to provide their services through virtual interaction. In preparation for a potential reduction in funding from their sponsors, they have been applying for more funding opportunities within their community. Because they are understaffed, they have communicated that a grant writer or development staff would benefit them at this time.

The Urban League of Lorain County has partnered with The Lorain County Cares COVID-19 Response Fund. This Fund was established to help Lorain County non-profit organizations who are responding to the spread of COVID-19 and experiencing financial challenges in the process. Applications that detail and document unexpected loss of revenue or sudden increases in expenses directly related to the COVID-19 may be submitted. Grants from the Fund will likely only serve to assist and supplement the total dollar amount needed—and should not be expected to supplant or replace in entirety. So far, each of the following community partners has contributed a significant amount to bring our initial total to $130,000. The League’s funding priorities are as follows:

Infrastructure (including the need for digital inclusion)
Education and Youth Services (including arts & culture programs)
Emergency Assistance/Basic Needs (including assistance to our senior population)

The 2019 Ohio Housing Needs Assessment shows in Lorain/Elyria much of the population spends at least 50% of their income on rent. As unemployment skyrockets, families are in dire need of emergency assistance. Due to this crisis, the League has reorganized their Housing Services to address the needs of seniors affected by COVID-19. They have created an Emergency Rental and Utility Assistance Program designed to assist them in overdue rent but prioritizes households facing eviction.

The Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis has provided food and toiletries for 1,500 families for three consecutive weeks. The event is sponsored by Enterprise Holdings Foundation, Emerson, the Regional Business Council, Sysco, Bank of America, Simmons Bank, Schnucks, and a few religious institutions. Due to the success from the past three events coupled with the significant need, the League extended this initiative to Madison County where they hosted their fourth food drive on April 24th.

The Urban League of Gary Indiana is supporting non-filer families with filing their tax returns, so they are eligible for the stimulus package. They have also provided 200 $50 grocery store gift cards for families who cannot afford food, which they would like to continue to offer in the coming months.

The Urban League of Broward County has not only moved all their programs virtually, too, but they have also offering COVID-19 testing at their Urban League. A strong Entrepreneurship program, they are offering remote orientations for small business owners to advise them on and connect them to their local loan services.

The Urban League of Greater Southwestern Ohio received a portion of Procter & Gamble’s 100,000 face masks and thousands of bottles of hand sanitizer given to Greater Cincinnati.

Louisville Urban League

Urban League of Central Carolinas

Urban League of Greater Chattanooga