Close

New York City issues a Code Blue Weather Emergency when the temperature drops to 32°F or less between 4pm and 8am. Should you see a homeless individual out in the cold, please call 311 and an outreach team will be dispatched to offer assistance. Learn more here.

Expansion of BronxWorks Legal Services

BronxWorks is proud to announce the expansion of our Legal Services department! Over the years, BronxWorks has provided an array of services addressing some of the most critical issues facing our Bronx neighbors, such as eviction prevention, among many others. Building on that legacy, in the fall of 2024, BronxWorks developed a full-service legal department under the leadership of Jerome Frierson, Esq., Vice President of Legal Services. As part of this departmental expansion, BronxWorks now joins other organizations and offers Right to Counsel services through our new Tenant Defense Program. Universal Access to Counsel is a New York City initiative introduced in 2017 that ensures the right to free legal representation for low-income New Yorkers facing eviction in housing court. While BronxWorks is one of the newest contractors to be part of this citywide initiative, the organization has always strived to keep our neighbors stably housed. 

Jerome Frierson, Esq., leads a meeting with department staff.

“Housing insecurity is one of the most enduring and pressing challenges faced by low-income New Yorkers. The Right to Counsel initiative has been revolutionary in providing assistance to residents fighting to remain stably housed. This initiative is about much more than just legal representation—it’s about ensuring lasting stability for the communities that make the Bronx strong.”  – Jerome Frierson, Esq., Vice President of Legal Services

The Tenant Defense Program is spearheaded by Jerome, who joined BronxWorks in September of 2024 and possesses over a decade of experience as a litigator for tenant advocacy in New York. In addition, the department has recently welcomed several new staff members and will eventually comprise approximately 42 professionals, including supervising attorneys, staff attorneys, paralegals, case managers, administrative staff, and practitioners with various specializations. The program is expected to handle over 1,300 housing matters annually, and supports clients with representation in eviction proceedings, administrative hearings, and appellate courts. Since its introduction in October 2024, the program has already served almost 400 individuals with critical legal assistance to safeguard their housing and economic stability. Alongside representing clients in Bronx Housing Civil Court, located directly next to the BronxWorks flagship community center at 1130 Grand Concourse, the Legal Services department is also engaging in impact litigation to strengthen tenant protections and address systemic housing issues.

“Our team’s ability to grow so quickly and take on this work is a testament to their passion and expertise. We are meeting tenants in moments of crisis and making a real difference—not just for individuals, but for the Bronx as a whole. Every tenant we assist is a victory for housing stability and justice.”  – Jerome Frierson, Esq.

BronxWorks staff from the Tenant Defense Program.

While tenant defense is the current area of growth in the department, BronxWorks continues to offer other legal services, including crime victims law, domestic violence law, and immigration law services. The Crime Victims Law unit ensures that victims are supported at every stage of the legal process, from reporting crimes to pursuing justice and recovery. The Domestic Violence Law unit emphasizes empowering survivors, ensuring their safety, and helping them regain control over their lives through holistic and compassionate legal advocacy. The Immigration Law unit is part of the NYC Neighborhood Development Areas (NDA) program, which focuses on providing immigration assistance to low-income communities, ensuring accessibility and legal representation. These services are led by Arturo Lopez, Esq., Associate Vice President of Legal Services. Arturo joined the organization in 2012 as an Immigration Attorney. During his tenure at BronxWorks, Arturo has guided the evolution of our legal services, including the additions of crime victims law services, domestic violence law services, and housing law services. 

Under Jerome and Arturo’s leadership, the department is encouraged to serve clients with a holistic approach by connecting them to additional services offered by the agency, such as other prevention services, access to benefits, workforce development, and more. For example, clients served by the Legal Services department for eviction prevention are also connected with our Benefit Access and Assistance program for rental assistance and other support. Oftentimes, those experiencing housing instability are also facing instability in other aspects of their lives, and BronxWorks can support them through our breadth of programs to meet their various needs. 

The BronxWorks Tenant Defense program will provide legal services to referrals received from the NYC Human Resources Administration (HRA) meeting specific criteria. Other legal services at BronxWorks, including immigration law, crime victims law, and domestic violence law services, welcome walk-in clients.

Click here to visit our Legal Services page.

Click here to read Jerome Frierson’s staff profile.

Click here to read Arturo Lopez’s staff profile.

Read more
BronxWorks Stories

Read More Stories