West Bronx Housing and Neighborhood Resource Center (WBHNRC) was founded in 1978 as a subsidiary of Bronx Jewish Community Council charged with providing housing-related services in the west Bronx. WBHNRC’s mission is to promote and preserve the housing of the west Bronx for the residents of that community by helping families to stay in their homes, improving their quality of life, and preventing neighborhood deterioration caused by foreclosure, eviction, and abandonment.

WBHNRC provides help to both tenants and property owners. Our goal is to allow for cooperation of service providers, tenants and property owners and to minimize and prevent eviction and disputes. Our goal is to promote the housing preservation, neighborhood stabilization and help owners and tenants alike. Our staff is very knowledgeable in New York City housing regulations and the legal rights and responsibilities for tenants and owners.

We at WBHNRC help you better understand your options. We want to advocate for you and help you find the best resources to solve your problem. We are funded to provide the services primarily in Bronx Community Districts 5, 7, 8, 12 some services are available to all Bronx residents.

The services we provide include but are not limited to:

• Eviction prevention and Assistance
• Housing Advocacy
• Rent Issues
• SCRIE/DRIE 
• Immigration
• Help with landlord/tenant disputes
• Repair Issues
• NDA #12 Program: Services for tenants living in Bronx Community District #12 are provided out of the BJCC main office at 2930 Wallace Ave, Bronx, NY 10467

Faced with eviction? We know that it can be a scary thing. However, tenants need to be aware that they do not need to leave their apartments just because their landlord asked them to – they can take them to housing court. For more information about housing court click here.

At WBHNRC we are here to help you! Some ways include representation in housing court, negotiations with landlords, inquiries about rent levels and conditions of apartment, and/or help filing the correct forms.

Our Housing Advocacy program helps all populations and we advocate and provide services for anyone who walks through our doors that needs housing assistance. Clients are informed of their rights and responsibilities, entitlements to government benefits, and we help them find affordable housing.

The issue of legal rent is always a problem. Rent stabilization went into effect in 1984 and landlords were required to report the rent. Due to misinformation in system, landlords may be charging more than legal rent. This can become an issue when building ownership changes and new owners ask for a rent increase. If this happens contact us for help in determining if this is allowed.

Additionally, WBHNRC will help you if you’re having issues affording your rent. We can help you apply for Section 8 Housing, SNAP and other benefits and help you apply for SCRIE/DRIE.

SCRIE: Senior Citizen Rent Increase Exemption

SCRIE allows senior citizens to freeze their rent in order to make it more affordable for them to remain in their apartments. To be eligible, applicants must be over the age of 62, on the lease, have an income less than $50,000 and have a rent that is at least one-third of their monthly income.

DRIE: Disability Rent Increase Exception

DRIE allows anyone who is receiving Federal Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Federal Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), US Department of Veterans Affairs disability pension or compensation, or disability related Medicaid to freeze their rent. In order  to qualify, applicants must be at least 18 years old, have rent that is at least one-third of their monthly income and their household income must be under $50,000.

We can help you apply at WBHNRC or any of our social service offices (BJCC and Holland Avenue). If you would like to apply on your own please visit the NYC Gov Website and obtain a copy of the application.

Located at 220 E 204^th Street
Bronx, NY 10458
718-798-0929

Staff:
Joshua Stephenson, Executive Director
Andrew Laiosa, Immigration, Eviction, Prevention and Others
Henry Vargas, Housing Advocate
Ilectra Scott-Cook NDA Program

Board of Directors:
Elaine Langer, President
Yahira Adorno, Secretary
Phillip Friedman, Treasurer
Betty Arce
Shannon Lee Gilstad
Harry Haul
Barbara Stronczer
Betty Arce