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Some Inspirational Stories...
BronxWorks Successes
Please click on a name to read a particular story:
Felipe came to the United States from the Dominican Republic in 2006. In his native country he was enrolled in the 11th grade, but when Felipe came to the United States he was put back two grades. Not wishing to begin high school all over, Felipe decided to drop out and enter a GED program. After some searching, he learned about the BronxWorks Excel program for young people who are out of school, unemployed, or both.
Shortly after enrolling, Felipe took the Test of Adult Basic Education (TABE). He scored high on the test and was placed in a GED class in Excel. Determined to succeed, Felipe did not miss a class and was always on time. Felipe often stayed late for tutoring. It was clear that the young man was highly motivated and was doing his best to succeed.
Felipe participated in the job readiness workshop offered by Excel and within a month secured an internship through the program at the BronxWorks Morris Senior Center. A studious and responsible intern, he used the 12-week experience and the job preparation skills learned by conferring with the Excel job counselor to secure a part time stock position at a retail outlet. Within a year of arriving in the United States, the young man had obtained employment, took the GED exam, and passed it.
Felipe is currently employed, earning $9.25 an hour and working up to 40 hours a week. He has completed a City University of New York application to further his education and will soon be starting college.
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Mary is a single parent with four children who was referred to the BronxWorks Family Enrichment Program (FEP) for excessive corporal punishment and inadequate guardianship of her children. A young mother with poor parenting skills, Mary was in the shelter system when it became apparent that she needed help: Her oldest child, then a kindergartner, smoked cigarettes. His siblings were often unkempt, reeked of urine, and generally had poor hygiene. FEP staff began working with Mary when she and her children were in a shelter in 2002. It proved to be a turning point. Mary and her children left the shelter system in 2004 and has not looked back, thanks to FEP. Mary has learned how to develop structure for her children, better communicate with them, and effectively manage her anger. Her home is well-kept and her children are clean. Mary’s children witness her love and dedication each day. She has maintained an apartment and employment since 2004. All of her children are now doing well in school, with two making the honor roll despite being diagnosed with medical conditions. Mary credits FEP for the transformation. She says that the program’s staff never stopped believing in her, even when her situation appeared hopeless.
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Maritza is a 65-year old Latina who has Alzheimer’s disease. While Maritza has a home attendant during daylight hours, the elderly woman spent a good deal of time by herself. When Maritza lost the keys to her apartment, the home attendant contacted the BronxWorks Minor Repair Program. When the minor repair technician came to the apartment the attendant spoke to him about other challenges Maritza faced. Maritza was at risk of having her lights cut off because a temporary replacement for her home attendant had stolen the money that was to go for Maritza’s utilities bill. The BronxWorks older adult housing specialist obtained a one-time arrears grant to avoid the shut off and a BronxWorks social worker met with Maritza to get help with her Alzheimer’s. The minor repair technician returned to Maritza’s apartment to replace a window gate and to install a front door latch to make her home safer. The social worker conferred with members of Maritza’s family to encourage them to participate more in her care. Maritza has an adult son who now regularly stays with his mother in the apartment overnight. Maritza enjoys the stimulation of his company. She and her family are grateful for the work of the BronxWorks Services for Seniors Department.
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Louis was found on a Bronx street by the BronxWorks Homeless Outreach Team (HOT) without shoes and wearing dirty clothes. He was clearly disoriented and appeared to have been on the street lacking shelter for some time. The HOT outreach workers convinced Louis to come to the Living Room drop-in center to get help. He agreed to meet with a Living Room caseworker, with whom he was cooperative but somewhat guarded in his behavior. The caseworker learned that Louis had no income, was an identity theft victim, and had no known relatives in the United States. Because he often spoke of being bothered by “spirits,” Louis was referred to the psychiatrist at the Living Room. Louis was diagnosed as being a chronic paranoid schizophrenic. Although medication was recommended to address this, initially Louis insisted that he no mental condition. The Living Room caseworker gained Louis’ trust over time. With the help of the BronxWorks Immigration Program, she helped him obtain naturalization documents. She then helped him obtain SSI benefits and resolve his identity theft situation. In February 2008, a Living Room housing specialist helped Louis obtain a one bedroom apartment managed by Pathways to Housing. Louis now lives independently and continues to adhere to his medication regimen.
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Belkys came to the BronxWorks Workforce Development center in October 2007 as part of New York City’s welfare to work initiative. From the outset, it was clear that Belkys was serious about finding and keeping a job, despite some challenges. Her first words to the employment specialist were, “I am eager to gain employment.” A single mother, Belkys admitted to feeling overwhelmed at times. She had to care for her children, comply with public assistance work requirements, pay bills, and conduct a job search. Belkys complained about not having a shoulder to lean on and having to do everything herself. To add to her challenges, Belkys lacked an interview suit. As the employment specialist helped her develop a good resume, practice interviewing skills, and identify leads, he reached out to Dress for Success to get Belkys a suit. Once Belkys got the suit, she was ready to be interviewed. The Bronx Works job development team arranged interviews for her at least three times a week. In late November 2007, Belkys got a job as a food service manager. She was elated and the sparks in her eyes made the employment specialist’s day. Belkys remains employed. She continues to balance priorities, but now feels more secure and less anxious. She enjoys “every minute” of her job.
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Alvin is a young man who has had a history of alcoholism, which has hindered his ability to be self-sufficient. When his grandmother died, Alvin was on the verge of homelessness. He came to the BronxWorks Single Stop program for help.
Alvin lived in public housing with his grandmother, who was the apartment’s leaseholder. When she died, he was at risk of losing the apartment because he had no income. When served with an eviction notice, Alvin knew he needed an advocate.
The Single Stop caseworker helped Alvin obtain documents that were required as proof to obtain a housing subsidy, food stamps, and cash benefits. She then helped him with the applications for each entitlement and referred him to the Legal Aid Society for help with his eviction notice. The caseworker also referred Alvin to the Food Bank of New York for tax credit assistance, which helped him obtain funds from the New York City 210 tax credit program.
Cognizant of Alvin’s drinking problem, the Single Stop caseworker referred him to an alcohol treatment program. Alvin enrolled and successfully completed the program.
Alvin is now the leaseholder of what had been his grandmother’s apartment. He remains sober, self-sufficient, and out of the shelter system.
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Marta came to the BronxWorks Eviction Prevention Department seeking housing help. A mother with two teenaged children, she relocated to the Bronx from Puerto Rico to escape a domestic violence situation. Marta moved in with her mother, who had a one bedroom apartment in a public housing project. Things quickly began to deteriorate. Marta, who had been diagnosed with schizophrenia and was a survivor of sexual as well as physical abuse, had trouble coping. The apartment was overcrowded and Marta, whose English proficiency was limited, felt isolated and depressed. BRONXWORKS helped Marta on several fronts. Our Home Base program enabled her and her children to secure a subsidized apartment. A referral to our Workforce Development center permitted Marta to enroll in an ESL class. Collaborating with the Legal Aid Society, we helped Marta obtain SSI to augment her public assistance income. A referral to the University Consultation Center enabled her to secure help from a skilled psychiatric professional. Marta now has her own apartment, which she shares with her two children. Her English has improved considerably, which allows her to communicate with people who are not Spanish-dominant. Marta continues her mental health counseling and a medication regimen that have enabled her to overcome the challenges associated with being a domestic violence survivor and a schizophrenia sufferer.
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Rita is an elderly woman who has diabetes and other health conditions. A public housing resident who lives alone on a fixed income, Rita was at risk of losing her apartment after missing two Section 8 recertification inspections. She came to the Avenue St. John office depressed and worried that she would become homeless. Rita came to our walk-in office at 632 South Boulevard despondent. She had received a termination notice from Section 8 and had accumulated rent arrears because the subsidy program stopped paying her rent after not gaining access to her apartment for a recertification inspection. The New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) also began eviction proceedings. Rita explained her situation to the Avenue St. John office staff. They assured Rita that she would not be evicted. An action plan was developed to help Rita remain in permanent housing. Results were quick to follow. Office staff followed up with NYCHA. Documentation was provided to prove that Rita was hospitalized when the initial recertification inspection was scheduled. In addition, our staff established that Rita was not aware of a subsequent effort to inspect her apartment because her building’s intercom system was broken. Previously Rita had repeatedly complained to the project’s management office that the intercom was out of order and had to be repaired. Thanks to BronxWorks, Rita was able to successfully contest her eviction. Her Section 8 subsidy was retroactively restored, arrears paid, and her application recertified. No longer worried about homelessness, Rita continues to successfully manage her diabetes and other health conditions.
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