The BronxWorks Workforce Development Department (WFD) provides a myriad of services to help our neighbors obtain gainful employment and further their careers. In addition to workforce training and employment assistance, the department also offers financial literacy and resources to assist community members as they increase their financial knowledge, understand budgeting and banking options, and obtain assistance with filing taxes and securing credits.
With April being Financial Literacy Month and the 2025 tax season coming to a close, BronxWorks WFD programming has been in full swing to support our neighbors as they file their taxes and pursue financial security.
Free Tax Preparation
In partnership with the NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP)’s NYC Free Tax Prep program, BronxWorks has offered free tax preparation services to individuals and families who qualify since 2007. Each year, BronxWorks dedicates dozens of staff members and volunteers, all of whom are IRS-certified VITA/TCE tax preparers, to support our neighbors in need of assistance with their tax returns. During the 2025 tax season, BronxWorks assisted over 8,300 residents in filing their taxes and maximizing their returns.
From January to April, BronxWorks free tax filing services are available across six different locations, including our WFD main office and Morris Older Adult Center, with some locations offering weekend and/or extended hours. Those who qualify can also access these services remotely. Additionally, in collaboration with Montefiore Medical Center and NYC Health & Hospitals, BronxWorks assists residents in the north Bronx in preparing their taxes and securing various tax credits, such as the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Child Tax Credit (CTC). BronxWorks also often works in collaboration with local elected officials to provide these services to their constituents.
A BronxWorks NYC Free Tax Prep staff member assists a client with filing their tax return.
Financial Empowerment
Another key program providing financial literacy resources to the Bronx community is the BronxWorks Financial Empowerment Center (FEC). This program, also in partnership with NYC DCWP, offers free one-on-one financial counseling to residents of the borough, with a focus on low- to moderate-income households. As a result of the program’s efforts, FEC provided financial counseling and education sessions to 986 individuals in 2024.
FEC staff assist participants in strategies to reduce debt, strengthen credit scores, develop routine savings practices, create budgets, and much more. For financial services that BronxWorks does not provide, FEC staff are able to refer households to other resources within the community. In addition to one-on-one sessions, FEC staff also facilitate group workshops in collaboration with a variety of local partners to help participants improve their financial knowledge and literacy.
BronxWorks Financial Empowerment Center staff; Herbert Green (left), and Karla Velasquez (right).
“We provide personalized financial counseling to help our clients make informed decisions, maximize tax refunds, and achieve long-term economic well-being. Whether they’re looking to create a budget, manage debt, build savings, or navigate the challenges of tax preparation, our experienced team is here to help. We support them every step of the way toward a stronger, more confident financial future.”
– Karla Velasquez, Program Director, FEC, NYC Free Tax Prep, FSS, RH Taxes
Collaboration Across Programs and Departments
Collaboration among the various programs and departments at BronxWorks has always been a core tenant of the organization. For example, FEC staff often facilitate financial workshops for our Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) participants, which is a program that connects young individuals with career exploration opportunities and paid work experience throughout the summer. FEC also hosts a banking fair, where all SYEP participants are invited to meet with representatives from local banks and open a bank account. In addition to collaboration among WFD programs, FEC staff work with our family shelter staff to provide financial counseling workshops in multiple languages to families residing in our shelters.
Our NYC Free Tax Prep program also connects with the BronxWorks Work Learn Grow (WLG) program to staff this seasonal service. WLG provides former SYEP participants who are in school with career readiness training and paid employment opportunities for up to 25 weeks during the school year. During the 2025 tax season, BronxWorks employed four WLG participants to assist staff members with conducting intake or filing taxes at our NYC Free Tax Prep sites.
Income Support Services After Job Readiness
BronxWorks is proud to offer a variety of workforce development programs that support our neighbors through their journey to financial stability. To assist with finding employment, participants receive job readiness services such as resume workshops, interview preparation, workplace etiquette, adult education classes, sector-focused occupational skills training, and more. After participants find employment, BronxWorks also provides income support services through our Financial Empowerment Center and NYC Free Tax Prep services. Income support services are an important aspect of workforce development at BronxWorks because they equip our neighbors to maintain stable income for their household and find financial success as they plan for the future. Additionally, participants in need of further wraparound services are connected to other BronxWorks programs that may fulfill their needs. For example, a participant in the Workforce Development department could be referred to our Children & Youth department for after-school support, our Benefits Access department to apply for benefits to which they may be entitled, our Community Health department for food and nutrition access, and more.
The BronxWorks Workforce Development Department (WFD) provides a myriad of services to help our neighbors obtain gainful employment and further their careers. In addition to workforce training and employment assistance, the department also offers financial literacy and resources to assist community members as they increase their financial knowledge, understand budgeting and banking options, and obtain assistance with filing taxes and securing credits.
With April being Financial Literacy Month and the 2025 tax season coming to a close, BronxWorks WFD programming has been in full swing to support our neighbors as they file their taxes and pursue financial security.
Free Tax Preparation
In partnership with the NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP)’s NYC Free Tax Prep program, BronxWorks has offered free tax preparation services to individuals and families who qualify since 2007. Each year, BronxWorks dedicates dozens of staff members and volunteers, all of whom are IRS-certified VITA/TCE tax preparers, to support our neighbors in need of assistance with their tax returns. During the 2025 tax season, BronxWorks assisted over 8,300 residents in filing their taxes and maximizing their returns.
From January to April, BronxWorks free tax filing services are available across six different locations, including our WFD main office and Morris Older Adult Center, with some locations offering weekend and/or extended hours. Those who qualify can also access these services remotely. Additionally, in collaboration with Montefiore Medical Center and NYC Health & Hospitals, BronxWorks assists residents in the north Bronx in preparing their taxes and securing various tax credits, such as the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Child Tax Credit (CTC). BronxWorks also often works in collaboration with local elected officials to provide these services to their constituents.
A BronxWorks NYC Free Tax Prep staff member assists a client with filing their tax return.
Financial Empowerment
Another key program providing financial literacy resources to the Bronx community is the BronxWorks Financial Empowerment Center (FEC). This program, also in partnership with NYC DCWP, offers free one-on-one financial counseling to residents of the borough, with a focus on low- to moderate-income households. As a result of the program’s efforts, FEC provided financial counseling and education sessions to 986 individuals in 2024.
FEC staff assist participants in strategies to reduce debt, strengthen credit scores, develop routine savings practices, create budgets, and much more. For financial services that BronxWorks does not provide, FEC staff are able to refer households to other resources within the community. In addition to one-on-one sessions, FEC staff also facilitate group workshops in collaboration with a variety of local partners to help participants improve their financial knowledge and literacy.
BronxWorks Financial Empowerment Center staff; Herbert Green (left), and Karla Velasquez (right).
“We provide personalized financial counseling to help our clients make informed decisions, maximize tax refunds, and achieve long-term economic well-being. Whether they’re looking to create a budget, manage debt, build savings, or navigate the challenges of tax preparation, our experienced team is here to help. We support them every step of the way toward a stronger, more confident financial future.”
– Karla Velasquez, Program Director, FEC, NYC Free Tax Prep, FSS, RH Taxes
Collaboration Across Programs and Departments
Collaboration among the various programs and departments at BronxWorks has always been a core tenant of the organization. For example, FEC staff often facilitate financial workshops for our Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) participants, which is a program that connects young individuals with career exploration opportunities and paid work experience throughout the summer. FEC also hosts a banking fair, where all SYEP participants are invited to meet with representatives from local banks and open a bank account. In addition to collaboration among WFD programs, FEC staff work with our family shelter staff to provide financial counseling workshops in multiple languages to families residing in our shelters.
Our NYC Free Tax Prep program also connects with the BronxWorks Work Learn Grow (WLG) program to staff this seasonal service. WLG provides former SYEP participants who are in school with career readiness training and paid employment opportunities for up to 25 weeks during the school year. During the 2025 tax season, BronxWorks employed four WLG participants to assist staff members with conducting intake or filing taxes at our NYC Free Tax Prep sites.
Income Support Services After Job Readiness
BronxWorks is proud to offer a variety of workforce development programs that support our neighbors through their journey to financial stability. To assist with finding employment, participants receive job readiness services such as resume workshops, interview preparation, workplace etiquette, adult education classes, sector-focused occupational skills training, and more. After participants find employment, BronxWorks also provides income support services through our Financial Empowerment Center and NYC Free Tax Prep services. Income support services are an important aspect of workforce development at BronxWorks because they equip our neighbors to maintain stable income for their household and find financial success as they plan for the future. Additionally, participants in need of further wraparound services are connected to other BronxWorks programs that may fulfill their needs. For example, a participant in the Workforce Development department could be referred to our Children & Youth department for after-school support, our Benefits Access department to apply for benefits to which they may be entitled, our Community Health department for food and nutrition access, and more.
