In the late 1960s and early 1970s, the Latino community of Boston became very active in the city’s civic, social, and political life. Primarily residing in the South End, Roxbury, and Dorchester, Latinos began organizing to advocate for their civil rights and access to social services. LAH was the first Latino organization of the Roxbury/North Dorchester area of Boston. In the South End, other advocacy and service agencies were formed, including Emergency Tenants Council, which later became Inquilinos Boricuas en Accion (IBA); El Centro del Cardenal, a Catholic charity organization; and the Association to Promote the Civil Rights of the Spanish Speaking (APCROSS). From its inception, LAH has been a multi-service organization, offering a variety of programs to meet the needs of its service community.