EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Originally from the Bay Area of California, Joshua has lived in New York City for over ten years, and now calls it his home. Joshua Stephenson joined West Bronx Housing as the Executive Director in September of 2019, taking the place of long-time Director Sally Dunford. Joshua discovered his passion for public service, organizing, and especially housing rights and housing policy, during his prior four years working as the Director of Constituent Services for then Council Member Andrew Cohen. During his time as Executive Director, West Bronx Housing weathered the pandemic, grew its budget from a low of ~$350,000 to nearly $700,000, and brought on five new staff members. Prior to his public service work in the Bronx, Joshua waited tables downtown, and cooked pizza back in the Bay Area for three years.

Joshua recently earned his Master’s in Public Administration from Baruch College in 2023 and his bachelor’s degree in Political Science from UC Berkeley. He is also a fluent Spanish speaker who loves speaking to groups of tenants about their housing rights.

COMMUNITY COORDINATOR AND HOUSING SPECIALIST

Eric Urquiza has been a Community Coordinator and Housing Specialist with the West Bronx Housing & Neighborhood Resource Center for three years. A bilingual long-time Bronxite, Mr. Urquiza drove trucks for over 31 years, delivering furniture, and then pharmaceuticals to hospitals and local-area pharmacies. During the COVID quarantine, he was furloughed and had to use his savings to pay for rent and other necessities. Eric discovered West Bronx Housing when he and the other tenants found out that they were getting evicted from their long-time homes, in the midst of the pandemic, through no fault of their own. Eric began volunteering at West Bronx Housing, learned the ropes, and worked his way up to fulltime.

I understand tenants' problems," Urquiza writes. "Just like them, I was a member of the Bronx community who didn't know my rights as a tenant." Urquiza understands the fear and confusion that arise when a tenant receives a letter from Housing Court, when a landlord refuses to perform essential repairs, or begins a campaign of harassment in an attempt to evict a tenant. You can see Mr. Urquiza at Community Board and 52nd Precinct Community Council meetings speaking on behalf of West Bronx Housing. "It feels great to help the community," he writes, "and to be able to tell people that they're not alone. We have their backs."

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT

Born and raised in the Bronx, Ana worked as a Home Health Aide and in the Hospitality Industry before coming to West Bronx Housing and Neighborhood Resource Center, Inc. This experience, as well as her experience as a young mother, has given her the capacity to engage meaningfully with neighbors and community members of various ages, and has instilled in her a deep understanding of the education system in the Bronx and the importance of community development and housing to both our youth and our seniors. Being a part of the working class has also instilled in her an understanding of the challenges that Bronxites face just to be able to meet their basic needs, whether it be affording rent, groceries, or other day-to-day necessities. As the Administrative Assistant for West Bronx Housing, Ana is often the first point of contact for our clients and the first person that they see when entering the office, and she provides meaningful support through facilitating communication, translating, and scheduling. She prides herself on making our clients feel taken care of in a world where many of them can no longer get a hold of a human being.

TENANT ORGANIZER AND EVICTION PREVENTION CASEWORKER

Grace's passion has always been to help others and her community. As a former Guardian Ad Litem for NYC Housing Courts, before coming to West Bronx Housing, she was responsible for helping people who could not come to court or protect their rights and interests. This experience led her to her position as a Tenant Organizer/Eviction Prevention Specialist with West Bronx Housing & Neighborhood Resource Center since March 2023. Grace now organizes tenants across the Bronx, forming Tenant Associations and helping tenants learn their rights. She also uses her resources to help prevent evictions across the Bronx. Grace loves what she does but more so the clients she helps.