New York City issues a Code Blue Weather Emergency when the temperature drops to 32°For 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.
BronxWorks continues to work with the families affected by the Twin Parks North West fire. Back in April of 2022, BronxWorks was contracted by the Mayor’s Fund to provide ongoing case management services to the impacted families. Since that time, we have continued to partner with the city, the state, and other organizations to provide essential aid, mainly in the form of case management services.
Through funds provided by the Mayor’s Fund, BronxWorks was able to distribute a one-time, direct emergency cash assistance payment to each household affected by the fire. Additionally, a grant offered through New York State allowed us to purchase furniture for families moving into new residences. As the majority of families are now settled in new homes, BronxWorks continues to provide case management services and connect families with other supportive programs, including workforce development, job training and placement, financial counseling, English as a Second Language (ESOL), and immigration assistance.
We continue to provide emergency assistance as needed, including the provision of rental assistance, moving and storage fees, and cleaning services. We are committed to supporting families when unforeseen costs arise and to continuing our work of connecting families with any benefits that they are eligible for, as doing so will help to ensure long-term stability.
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April 1, 2022 – Since January, with support from New York State, BronxWorks has provided ongoing case management services to families affected by the Twin Parks North West fire, including helping families secure household necessities such as furniture replacement; connecting residents to medical and mental health services; distributing financial assistance to primary leaseholders; assisting non-leaseholders with proving their residency to help them secure benefits; distributing food pantry items; troubleshooting transportation issues; and providing legal services and benefits application support to help families rebuild their lives after this devastating event. A separate organization was contracted to provide housing services. BronxWorks is not involved in any of the hotel or housing placements for families.
BronxWorks took action immediately after the fire. Case managers met with both the primary leaseholders as well as families who were doubled up. BronxWorks has been processing and will continue to process furniture requests, as well as address individual, specific needs of those who face significant obstacles, especially after enduring such a traumatic event.
BronxWorks is grateful to have been recently selected by New York City Mayor Eric Adams and the Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City (Mayor’s Fund) to distribute $3 million in cash assistance to nearly 150 families impacted by the devastating Twin Parks fire in the Bronx. BronxWorks is distributing funding to the head of household of all leaseholders who resided in the building at the time of the fire, and to eligible non-leaseholders. BronxWorks will also distribute additional emergency funding throughout the year that may arise due to medical challenges resulting from the fire, and work with families to help replace lost items due to the fire. BronxWorks will also work with the impacted families who lost jobs, providing employment services, ESL classes, and immigration services. BronxWorks looks forward to working with the Mayor’s Fund to continue providing and building upon support for families.
BronxWorks has also been working closely with invaluable community partners, businesses and other groups to help shepherd their donations directly to families. The support has been astounding, and BronxWorks is also coordinating events to continue to facilitate direct donations from other generous entities.
BronxWorks continues to work with the families affected by the Twin Parks North West fire. Back in April of 2022, BronxWorks was contracted by the Mayor’s Fund to provide ongoing case management services to the impacted families. Since that time, we have continued to partner with the city, the state, and other organizations to provide essential aid, mainly in the form of case management services.
Through funds provided by the Mayor’s Fund, BronxWorks was able to distribute a one-time, direct emergency cash assistance payment to each household affected by the fire. Additionally, a grant offered through New York State allowed us to purchase furniture for families moving into new residences. As the majority of families are now settled in new homes, BronxWorks continues to provide case management services and connect families with other supportive programs, including workforce development, job training and placement, financial counseling, English as a Second Language (ESOL), and immigration assistance.
We continue to provide emergency assistance as needed, including the provision of rental assistance, moving and storage fees, and cleaning services. We are committed to supporting families when unforeseen costs arise and to continuing our work of connecting families with any benefits that they are eligible for, as doing so will help to ensure long-term stability.
—–
April 1, 2022 – Since January, with support from New York State, BronxWorks has provided ongoing case management services to families affected by the Twin Parks North West fire, including helping families secure household necessities such as furniture replacement; connecting residents to medical and mental health services; distributing financial assistance to primary leaseholders; assisting non-leaseholders with proving their residency to help them secure benefits; distributing food pantry items; troubleshooting transportation issues; and providing legal services and benefits application support to help families rebuild their lives after this devastating event. A separate organization was contracted to provide housing services. BronxWorks is not involved in any of the hotel or housing placements for families.
BronxWorks took action immediately after the fire. Case managers met with both the primary leaseholders as well as families who were doubled up. BronxWorks has been processing and will continue to process furniture requests, as well as address individual, specific needs of those who face significant obstacles, especially after enduring such a traumatic event.
BronxWorks is grateful to have been recently selected by New York City Mayor Eric Adams and the Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City (Mayor’s Fund) to distribute $3 million in cash assistance to nearly 150 families impacted by the devastating Twin Parks fire in the Bronx. BronxWorks is distributing funding to the head of household of all leaseholders who resided in the building at the time of the fire, and to eligible non-leaseholders. BronxWorks will also distribute additional emergency funding throughout the year that may arise due to medical challenges resulting from the fire, and work with families to help replace lost items due to the fire. BronxWorks will also work with the impacted families who lost jobs, providing employment services, ESL classes, and immigration services. BronxWorks looks forward to working with the Mayor’s Fund to continue providing and building upon support for families.
BronxWorks has also been working closely with invaluable community partners, businesses and other groups to help shepherd their donations directly to families. The support has been astounding, and BronxWorks is also coordinating events to continue to facilitate direct donations from other generous entities.
To celebrate Women’s History Month, we wanted to highlight one of the many women leaders at BronxWorks. Throughout our storied 50 years of providing services to the Bronx, we have benefited from countless women visionaries, each of whom have contributed to the growth of this organization. This month, we are excited to highlight Betty Ann Tamaisar, Department Director of the BronxWorks Workforce Development Department.
I am so proud to work for a nonprofit organization like BronxWorks, with some of the smartest people I have ever met. I have such an admiration for all of my colleagues, people who have such passion. It gives me the confidence to do anything.”
Betty grew up in Trinidad and came to the U.S. as an international student, earning her Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from the New Jersey City University. She then completed her Master’s Degree in Human Rights with a focus on Women’s Rights at Columbia University.
Betty joined BronxWorks in 2010 as an Operations Coordinator for the Workforce Development Department. As the Operations Coordinator, she provided administrative and operational support to the entire department, assisting with whatever was needed. In 2012, she joined the Access to Benefits Department as a Program Coordinator to oversee the Healthy Families and Housing Programs and Bedford Walk-In-Office, and then in 2013 was promoted to Program Director of the Navigator Program. It was during these years that Betty worked closely with Eileen Torres, John Weed, and Julie Spitzer, who have all become senior leaders at BronxWorks. Betty credits these working relationships with much of her professional growth.
In 2014, Betty would rejoin the Workforce Development Department as the Assistant Department Director before she was eventually promoted to Department Director. In 2015, Betty was named as one of New York Non-Profit Media 40 Under 40 Rising Stars, and currently sits on the New York City Employment and Training Coalition’s (NYCETC) Strategy and Policy Council.
There were tough moments when I thought I bit off more than I could chew , but I always had a strong support system in the form of the Executive Team as well as Marie Edwards, the Assistant Department Director.”
In her time at WFD, Betty has overseen the growth of the department, originally overseeing four programs to now managing a portfolio of fourteen programs and serving close to 10,000 participants per year. True to fashion, Betty credits her team for providing the foundation for the growth and success of the department.
Betty said that the root of her motivation to work in human services grew from her own mother. “I saw the struggles she went through as an immigrant, working 3-4 jobs, to ensure that she could put me on a path to success. She is one of the strongest women I know and inspires me to help others to become self-sufficient.
Outside of work, Betty loves to travel and is excited to start traveling again. She loves to sing and recently purchased a karaoke machine. She is also an avid gardener, wife and mother of two. Unsurprisingly, she loves to give her step-son advice on his own employment journey.
To celebrate Women’s History Month, we wanted to highlight one of the many women leaders at BronxWorks. Throughout our storied 50 years of providing services to the Bronx, we have benefited from countless women visionaries, each of whom have contributed to the growth of this organization. This month, we are excited to highlight Betty Ann Tamaisar, Department Director of the BronxWorks Workforce Development Department.
I am so proud to work for a nonprofit organization like BronxWorks, with some of the smartest people I have ever met. I have such an admiration for all of my colleagues, people who have such passion. It gives me the confidence to do anything.”
Betty grew up in Trinidad and came to the U.S. as an international student, earning her Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from the New Jersey City University. She then completed her Master’s Degree in Human Rights with a focus on Women’s Rights at Columbia University.
Betty joined BronxWorks in 2010 as an Operations Coordinator for the Workforce Development Department. As the Operations Coordinator, she provided administrative and operational support to the entire department, assisting with whatever was needed. In 2012, she joined the Access to Benefits Department as a Program Coordinator to oversee the Healthy Families and Housing Programs and Bedford Walk-In-Office, and then in 2013 was promoted to Program Director of the Navigator Program. It was during these years that Betty worked closely with Eileen Torres, John Weed, and Julie Spitzer, who have all become senior leaders at BronxWorks. Betty credits these working relationships with much of her professional growth.
In 2014, Betty would rejoin the Workforce Development Department as the Assistant Department Director before she was eventually promoted to Department Director. In 2015, Betty was named as one of New York Non-Profit Media 40 Under 40 Rising Stars, and currently sits on the New York City Employment and Training Coalition’s (NYCETC) Strategy and Policy Council.
There were tough moments when I thought I bit off more than I could chew , but I always had a strong support system in the form of the Executive Team as well as Marie Edwards, the Assistant Department Director.”
In her time at WFD, Betty has overseen the growth of the department, originally overseeing four programs to now managing a portfolio of fourteen programs and serving close to 10,000 participants per year. True to fashion, Betty credits her team for providing the foundation for the growth and success of the department.
Betty said that the root of her motivation to work in human services grew from her own mother. “I saw the struggles she went through as an immigrant, working 3-4 jobs, to ensure that she could put me on a path to success. She is one of the strongest women I know and inspires me to help others to become self-sufficient.
Outside of work, Betty loves to travel and is excited to start traveling again. She loves to sing and recently purchased a karaoke machine. She is also an avid gardener, wife and mother of two. Unsurprisingly, she loves to give her step-son advice on his own employment journey.
The BronxWorks Workforce Development Department (WFD) is a collection of programs that prepares New Yorkers that are unemployed, looking for their first job, or need help improving their careers for their employment journey. The department has programs for a range of populations, including young adults, New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) residents, non-custodial parents, and older adults.
A Workforce Development staff person assists a client during tax season.
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, BronxWorks WFD continued to assist our community members with employment assistance. As the New York economy recovers from the effects of the pandemic and New Yorkers return to work, the department has geared up even further to ensure that our communities have the resources they need to achieve gainful employment, financial stability, and a brighter future.
In this month’s newsletter, we highlight the growth of the BronxWorks Workforce Development Department and variety of programs that are offered to target the dynamic needs and challenges faced in our communities.
HERO Dads
The Healthy, Empowered, Resilient, and Open (HERO) Dads program works with eligible non-custodial parents (ages 18 and older) who have children ages 24 and younger. The program is a partnership with Montefiore Medical Center that is designed to strengthen positive parent-child engagement, improve social and economic outcomes for parents and their families, improve healthy relationships, and promote healthy marriages. The partnership is built on the idea that it is not enough to just help people with finding employment; it is also crucial to ensure that people are in a good place personally and mentally to sustain employment long-term. Through the program, BronxWorks provides employment assistance, training, and self-sufficiency and parenting workshops, while Montefiore provides mental health consultations and counseling.
Community Service Programs
A Workforce Development staff person assists community members with employment information.
BronxWorks WFD provides a suite of Community Service Programs based in NYCHA residences across the Bronx. The three centers are located at the Bronxchester Community Service Office, providing services to the residents of the Bronxchester Houses and surrounding neighborhoods; The Cross Bronx Preservation Community Service Office, providing services to the residents of Baychester and Murphy Houses; and the Twin Parks/Highbridge/Franklin Community Service Office, providing services to the residents of Twin Parks, Highbridge, and Franklin public housing developments. Each of these centers offers a multitude of programs including job readiness preparation, vocational trainings, financial counseling, literacy, educational workshops, health and wellness education, and benefits screenings and assistance.
Similarly, the Family Self-Sufficiency Program gives HPD Section 8 participants free services like job training, job placement, training, and education, and also provides financial rewards to participants through a free savings account, resulting in successful graduates earning a stipend. The goal of these programs is to help residents improve their skills and assist them in seeking long-term employment opportunities.
Youth Workforce/Summer Youth Employment Program
Last year, BronxWorks Youth Workforce services were shifted under the WFD umbrella. The collection of programs aims to provide both school and community-based job-readiness training and education programming focused on youth and young adults. Programs include the EXCEL Program for youth ages 16-24 to explore a variety of employment options and prepare them for the world of work through resume building workshops, interview practice, computer skills training, and financial literacy, as well as high school equivalency classes. The Neighborhood Development Area (NDA) Opportunity Youth Program works with youth ages 16-24 who are out of school and unemployed that reside in NDA 4 or 5. The program shepherds participants through a course of work readiness trainings, counseling, and a paid 14-week internship.
BronxWorks WFD also manages the Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP). SYEP connects over 1,300 New York City youth ages 14-24 with career exploration and a six week paid work experience every summer. Each year leading up to the summer, WFD prepares by hiring 50 seasonal staff to oversee and manage the placements of the 1,300 participants at hundreds of different work sites and partner organizations throughout the Bronx. The entire department comes together to help with the hiring logistics. The subsequent Work, Learn, & Grow Employment Program (WLG) builds off of the work experiences gained through SYEP and provides participants with follow-up career readiness training and paid employment opportunities for up to 25 weeks during the school year from October to March.
Taxes, Financial Empowerment, and More
BronxWorks Workforce Development offices assist over 5,000 New York City residents with tax filing preparation every year.
Every tax season, BronxWorks WFD offers a free income tax service for New York City residents through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA). Qualifying individuals must have an annual income below $50,000 and households must have an annual income below $72,000. The Bronx-PEACH Program is another collaboration with Montefiore Medical Center to provide tax preparation assistance to residents in targeted zip codes of the north Bronx who are disproportionately at risk of adverse childhood experiences. Known as the Bronx Promote Earned Income Tax Credit to Support At-risk Children (PEACH), the goal of the program is to provide VITA services to secure the Earned Income Tax Credits (EITC) for these households.
In addition to tax preparation services, BronxWorks WFD provides a number of services to assist New York residents with low incomes through the Financial Empowerment Center (OFE) Program. OFE offers high quality financial education and counseling, resources to promote access to safe and affordable banking, and assistance with securing tax credits and other income-boosting benefits and savings. The program is designed to help low-income households reduce debt, strengthen their credit score, develop routine practices to increase savings, balance household budgets, and connect with financial resources like opening bank accounts.
All of these programs have been layered on top of the foundation of more traditional high-quality job preparation and assistance programs like Jobs Plus. Jobs Plus combines employment-related services, financial incentives, community support for work, and financial counseling into a single workforce development program that supports NYCHA residents living in the Betances, E. Roberts Moore, Melrose, and Courtlandt Avenue Houses. While WFD continues to offer Jobs Plus as a core assistance for individuals seeking employment, the department has expanded to offer comprehensive wraparound services to support households in other areas that create stability and self-sufficiency.
A New Home Workforce Development: Park Haven
In the fall of the 2021, BronxWorks relocated the Workforce Development Department to Park Haven a mixed-use residential building, located at 550 East 142 Street. The 10-story building houses 178 residential units, including affordable and supportive housing units, as well as BronxWorks offices for Supportive Housing and Workforce Development.
The BronxWorks Workforce Development Department (WFD) is a collection of programs that prepares New Yorkers that are unemployed, looking for their first job, or need help improving their careers for their employment journey. The department has programs for a range of populations, including young adults, New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) residents, non-custodial parents, and older adults.
A Workforce Development staff person assists a client during tax season.
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, BronxWorks WFD continued to assist our community members with employment assistance. As the New York economy recovers from the effects of the pandemic and New Yorkers return to work, the department has geared up even further to ensure that our communities have the resources they need to achieve gainful employment, financial stability, and a brighter future.
In this month’s newsletter, we highlight the growth of the BronxWorks Workforce Development Department and variety of programs that are offered to target the dynamic needs and challenges faced in our communities.
HERO Dads
The Healthy, Empowered, Resilient, and Open (HERO) Dads program works with eligible non-custodial parents (ages 18 and older) who have children ages 24 and younger. The program is a partnership with Montefiore Medical Center that is designed to strengthen positive parent-child engagement, improve social and economic outcomes for parents and their families, improve healthy relationships, and promote healthy marriages. The partnership is built on the idea that it is not enough to just help people with finding employment; it is also crucial to ensure that people are in a good place personally and mentally to sustain employment long-term. Through the program, BronxWorks provides employment assistance, training, and self-sufficiency and parenting workshops, while Montefiore provides mental health consultations and counseling.
Community Service Programs
A Workforce Development staff person assists community members with employment information.
BronxWorks WFD provides a suite of Community Service Programs based in NYCHA residences across the Bronx. The three centers are located at the Bronxchester Community Service Office, providing services to the residents of the Bronxchester Houses and surrounding neighborhoods; The Cross Bronx Preservation Community Service Office, providing services to the residents of Baychester and Murphy Houses; and the Twin Parks/Highbridge/Franklin Community Service Office, providing services to the residents of Twin Parks, Highbridge, and Franklin public housing developments. Each of these centers offers a multitude of programs including job readiness preparation, vocational trainings, financial counseling, literacy, educational workshops, health and wellness education, and benefits screenings and assistance.
Similarly, the Family Self-Sufficiency Program gives HPD Section 8 participants free services like job training, job placement, training, and education, and also provides financial rewards to participants through a free savings account, resulting in successful graduates earning a stipend. The goal of these programs is to help residents improve their skills and assist them in seeking long-term employment opportunities.
Youth Workforce/Summer Youth Employment Program
Last year, BronxWorks Youth Workforce services were shifted under the WFD umbrella. The collection of programs aims to provide both school and community-based job-readiness training and education programming focused on youth and young adults. Programs include the EXCEL Program for youth ages 16-24 to explore a variety of employment options and prepare them for the world of work through resume building workshops, interview practice, computer skills training, and financial literacy, as well as high school equivalency classes. The Neighborhood Development Area (NDA) Opportunity Youth Program works with youth ages 16-24 who are out of school and unemployed that reside in NDA 4 or 5. The program shepherds participants through a course of work readiness trainings, counseling, and a paid 14-week internship.
BronxWorks WFD also manages the Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP). SYEP connects over 1,300 New York City youth ages 14-24 with career exploration and a six week paid work experience every summer. Each year leading up to the summer, WFD prepares by hiring 50 seasonal staff to oversee and manage the placements of the 1,300 participants at hundreds of different work sites and partner organizations throughout the Bronx. The entire department comes together to help with the hiring logistics. The subsequent Work, Learn, & Grow Employment Program (WLG) builds off of the work experiences gained through SYEP and provides participants with follow-up career readiness training and paid employment opportunities for up to 25 weeks during the school year from October to March.
Taxes, Financial Empowerment, and More
BronxWorks Workforce Development offices assist over 5,000 New York City residents with tax filing preparation every year.
Every tax season, BronxWorks WFD offers a free income tax service for New York City residents through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA). Qualifying individuals must have an annual income below $50,000 and households must have an annual income below $72,000. The Bronx-PEACH Program is another collaboration with Montefiore Medical Center to provide tax preparation assistance to residents in targeted zip codes of the north Bronx who are disproportionately at risk of adverse childhood experiences. Known as the Bronx Promote Earned Income Tax Credit to Support At-risk Children (PEACH), the goal of the program is to provide VITA services to secure the Earned Income Tax Credits (EITC) for these households.
In addition to tax preparation services, BronxWorks WFD provides a number of services to assist New York residents with low incomes through the Financial Empowerment Center (OFE) Program. OFE offers high quality financial education and counseling, resources to promote access to safe and affordable banking, and assistance with securing tax credits and other income-boosting benefits and savings. The program is designed to help low-income households reduce debt, strengthen their credit score, develop routine practices to increase savings, balance household budgets, and connect with financial resources like opening bank accounts.
All of these programs have been layered on top of the foundation of more traditional high-quality job preparation and assistance programs like Jobs Plus. Jobs Plus combines employment-related services, financial incentives, community support for work, and financial counseling into a single workforce development program that supports NYCHA residents living in the Betances, E. Roberts Moore, Melrose, and Courtlandt Avenue Houses. While WFD continues to offer Jobs Plus as a core assistance for individuals seeking employment, the department has expanded to offer comprehensive wraparound services to support households in other areas that create stability and self-sufficiency.
A New Home Workforce Development: Park Haven
In the fall of the 2021, BronxWorks relocated the Workforce Development Department to Park Haven a mixed-use residential building, located at 550 East 142 Street. The 10-story building houses 178 residential units, including affordable and supportive housing units, as well as BronxWorks offices for Supportive Housing and Workforce Development.
Do you want to work with Bronx youth? Are you interested in joining the important work BronxWorks is doing? Come to the SYEP Job Fair! (Register Here!)
We are looking for individuals who are interested in working with children and have strong administrative skills to be seasonal staff for the BronxWorks Summer Youth Employment Program. Positions run from May – August and pay $18-$21/hr.
The fair is Thursday, April 7, 2022 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m at the BronxWorks Carolyn McLaughlin Community Center, 1130 Grand Concourse, 2nd Floor, Bronx, NY 10456. Click here if you’re planning to come so we can expect you!
Do you want to work with Bronx youth? Are you interested in joining the important work BronxWorks is doing? Come to the SYEP Job Fair! (Register Here!)
We are looking for individuals who are interested in working with children and have strong administrative skills to be seasonal staff for the BronxWorks Summer Youth Employment Program. Positions run from May – August and pay $18-$21/hr.
The fair is Thursday, April 7, 2022 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m at the BronxWorks Carolyn McLaughlin Community Center, 1130 Grand Concourse, 2nd Floor, Bronx, NY 10456. Click here if you’re planning to come so we can expect you!
