New York City Mayor Eric Adams and the Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City (Mayor’s Fund) announced last week that an additional $3 million in cash assistance will be made available to assist over 150 households impacted by the Twin Parks fire in the Bronx on January 9. Trusted community partner BronxWorks has been chosen to distribute the $3 million in cash assistance and will receive an additional $500,000 in funding to provide services and longer-term support over the next 12 months to those affected. This work will supplement and build on the case management services and support BronxWorks has already been providing to residents for the last two months. Since the fire, the Mayor’s Fund has raised a total of $4.4 million between monetary and in-kind donations, approximately $937,000 of which has been spent so far on cash assistance, food, burial services, and more.
Immediately after the fire, the Mayor’s Fund established the Bronx Fire Relief Fund to provide supplies and relief to the families affected by the fire. Today’s contract with BronxWorks has two primary goals: first, to provide cash assistance to the families impacted by the fire, and second, to provide ongoing case management for families, while also connecting them to other resources and benefits that may provide them additional government benefits in the future.
BronxWorks has been on the ground providing services since January 9, and their case managers are well situated to provide comprehensive services tailored to each family’s specific needs. As part of today’s contract, case managers from BronxWorks will engage families for a complete 12-month period, or until families cease engagement with them, and will serve as a single point of contact, so that those impacted do not need to contact multiple agencies and organizations for different needs. Specifically, BronxWorks will conduct needs assessments and assist those affected by the fire to access services, benefits, and resources, including those related to mental and physical health, legal services, financial counseling, benefits, job training and employment services, childcare, food pantries/grocery store cash cards, and other needs.
The city is also making La Central — a new, mixed-use, affordable housing development located in the Melrose neighborhood of the Bronx — available to those residents who want to relocate there. The city, the American Red Cross, and Twin Parks property owner Camber have extended hotels for the impacted families of the fire through April 7, 2022. Families wishing to relocate to La Central or move back into Twin Parks are being provided financial assistance in the form of moving credits and furniture credits through CVR and BronxWorks. In addition to the support provided by the city and other groups, Camber has distributed $5,000 of financial assistance per household to residents.
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