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BRONX INDEPENDENT LIVING SERVICES INC
BRONX, NY · EIN 133238733 · Form 990 · FY2023 · NTEE P8XZ · Human Services · Medium ($1M-$10M) · bils.org
revenue
$1.7M
expenses
$1.7M
net assets
$473K
employees
35
volunteers
9
program ratio
77%
mission · from form 990

TO EMPOWER ALL PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES TO UNDERSTAND AND EXERCISE THEIR CIVIL AND HUMAN RIGHTS IN ORDER TO LIVE FULLY INTEGRATED LIVES IN MAINSTREAM SOCIETY.

profile · synthesized from sources

Bronx Independent Living Services (BILS) is a nonprofit organization founded in 1983 that empowers people with disabilities to exercise their civil and human rights and live independently in mainstream society. The organization provides a range of services including housing transition support, employment assistance, crisis counseling for crime victims, and benefits advisement. BILS operates primarily in the Bronx, New York, and serves individuals with disabilities across various programs tailored to their needs.

irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2023

What they reported doing

  1. #1 primary $510K
    NYAIL OHS, RTH, OPEN DOORS (MFP), RTH-CTS AND OHS-CTS ARE PROGRAMS DESIGNED TOP HELP INDIVIDUALS IN NURSING HOMES SECURE HOUSING AS WELL AS PROVIDE SERVICES WHICH AID IN THE TRANSITIONING OUT OF NURSING HOMES INTO SUSTAINABLE LIVING CONDITIONS.
  2. #2 $175K
    OVS PROVIDES CRISIS COUNSELING, LEGAL SUPPORT, CASE MANAGEMENT, FINANCIAL HELP, AND ADVOCACY FOR INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES WHO ARE VICTIMS OF CRIME.
named programs · 11 · from sources

What they call their work

Benefits Advisement
Provides certified benefits counseling on Social Security, Medicaid, Medicare, and other public assistance programs to help individuals maintain benefits while working.
Crime Victim & Domestic Violence Services
Provides crisis intervention, legal support, counseling, benefits advisement, and criminal justice advocacy for victims of crime and domestic violence with disabilities.
Deaf Services
Delivers tailored services including case management, communication assistance, employment referral, legal services, and independent living skills training for deaf and hard of hearing individuals.
Disability Awareness Program
Conducts training for corporations, government agencies, and service providers on disability rights, communication strategies, and inclusive practices.
Employment Program
Provides career counseling, job search assistance, resume writing, interview preparation, and work-based learning placements for individuals with disabilities through ACCES-VR and Ticket to Work programs.
NY Connects
Offers information and referral services connecting individuals with disabilities to community resources and support programs.
Olmstead Housing Subsidy (OHS)
Provides rental subsidies and transition support for Medicaid-enrolled individuals moving from nursing homes to independent community living, covering security deposits, moving expenses, and utility payments.
Open Doors (MFP)
Assists individuals transitioning from nursing homes or intermediate care facilities to community living by providing information, peer support, and transition planning services.
Peer Integration Services
Offers peer support, benefits application assistance, housing coordination, and college preparation for individuals with disabilities through partnership with ACCES-VR.
Rapid Transition Housing (RTH)
Offers rental subsidies and supportive housing services for high-need Medicaid beneficiaries with chronic disabilities who are homeless or at risk of institutionalization.
Youth Services
Offers pre-employment transition services for youth with disabilities aged 14-24, including career exploration, soft skills development, and work-based learning experiences.
activities · 12 groups

What they do

  • Disability Rights Advocacy & Self-Advocacy Empowerment 2 activities
    • Disability awareness and public education
      Runs a Disability Awareness Program to educate the public and promote inclusion of people with disabilities through training that uses real-life vignettes, group exercises, and Q&A sessions to reflect on attitudes toward disability.
    • Empowerment and rights advocacy for people with disabilities
      Empowers people with disabilities to understand and exercise their civil and human rights to live integrated lives in mainstream society through peer integration services and rights education.
  • Community Resource Navigation and Support Services 2 activities
    • Information and referral services
      Offers information and referral services to connect individuals with disabilities to community resources and support programs, including as part of the NY Connects program, which provides no-cost assistance to older adults and people with disabilities.
    • Non-residential independent living center operations
      Operates as a non-residential center for people with disabilities, providing free programs and services to promote independence, community integration, and access to resources.
  • Public Benefits Navigation and Enrollment 1 activity
    • Benefits advisement and public benefits access
      Provides benefits advisement to help individuals with disabilities understand, access, and maintain public benefits including Social Security Disability, Medicaid, and Medicare, as well as assistance with applying for benefits and housing.
  • Residential Support for Developmental Disabilities 1 activity
    • Community transition from institutional settings
      Operates programs to help individuals transition from nursing homes into sustainable community-based housing and living conditions, including through the Open Doors Money Follows the Person (MFP) program and direct assistance with reintegration services such as security deposits, moving expenses, and household establishment.
  • Domestic Violence Survivor Support Services 1 activity
    • Crime and domestic violence victim support services
      Provides crisis counseling, legal support, case management, financial assistance, and advocacy services to individuals and families who are victims of crime, with specialized support for survivors of domestic violence who have disabilities, including crisis intervention, compensation claim assistance, personal and legal advocacy, counseling, support groups, and victims' rights education.
  • Workforce Readiness Training 1 activity
    • Employment and vocational services for people with disabilities
      Provides comprehensive employment services including career counseling, resume writing, job search assistance, interview preparation, skills workshops, accommodations support, benefits advisement, financial literacy, work-based learning placements, and job retention strategies, in partnership with ACCES-VR and through a dedicated employment program.
  • Language Access Services 1 activity
    • Language access and communication support services
      Provides services in English, Spanish, and American Sign Language, with access to additional languages through translation services, including communication assistance and technical support for Deaf and hard of hearing individuals.
  • Youth Workforce Readiness Programs 1 activity
    • Pre-Employment Transition Services for youth
      Offers Pre-Employment Transition Services for ACCES-VR participants ages 14–21, including career exploration, soft skills development, self-advocacy training, and work-based learning experiences such as job shadowing, internships, volunteering, and career mentorship.
  • Deaf and Hard of Hearing Support Services 1 activity
    • Specialized services for Deaf and hard of hearing individuals
      Provides tailored services for Deaf and hard of hearing individuals, including case management, community outreach, education, employment referral and advocacy, legal services, counseling, independent living skills, information and referral, communication assistance, and technical support.
  • Supportive and Emergency Housing Services 1 activity
    • Supportive housing and rental subsidy programs
      Provides housing subsidies through the Olmstead Housing Subsidy (OHS) program and Rapid Transition Housing (RTH) services, as well as a statewide rental subsidy and transitional housing program for high-need Medicaid beneficiaries transitioning from nursing homes.
  • Organizational DEI Capacity Building 1 activity
    • Workforce inclusion and staff diversity modeling
      Maintains a diverse staff with representation of people with disabilities to model workforce inclusion and promote disability equity within the organization.
  • Youth Development and Support Services 1 activity
    • Youth independence and transition support
      Provides tailored services for youth with disabilities ages 14–24 to support the transition from school to adulthood, including skills development, academic and employment goal achievement, and individualized assistance with college preparation and public benefits.
financials · form 990 · fy2023
revenue
Total revenue$1.72M
Contributions & grants$1.68M98%
Program service revenue$41K2%
Investment income$00%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$1.71M
Program expenses77%
Admin / overhead23%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$1.26M
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$1.79M
Cash$30K
Investments$0
Liabilities$1.31M
Net assets$473K
Liquid reserves0.2 mo
5 years on record · 2019–2023 · YoY revenue -7.3%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2023

Who runs it

paid leadership · 1
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
MANUEL PEREZ EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 40 $131K
board members · 6
  • BARBARA LINN — PRESIDENT
  • BERNEAL SUTHERLAND — DIRECTOR
  • FRED FERNANDEZ — VICE PRESIDENT
  • JASON LIEBERMAN — DIRECTOR
  • JOAN PETERS — TREASURER
  • SHELDON MANN — DIRECTOR
relationships · 16

Who they work with

  • ACCES-VR Partner — Collaborates with ACCES-VR to deliver employment services to individuals with disabilities.
  • ACCES-VR Partner — Partnership to provide supportive services addressing employment barriers for people with disabilities.
  • ACCES-VR Partner — Provides Pre-Employment Transition Services to ACCES-VR participants and requires students to work with a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor.
  • Dominga Torres Partner — Director of Community Relations & Special Projects involved in Deaf Services Program
  • Family and Criminal Courts Partner — Provides advocacy and support within Family and Criminal Courts justice systems for victims of crime and domestic violence.
  • Independent Living Centers network Network — Member of the national Independent Living Centers network.
  • Lisa Rivera Partner — Open Doors Program Manager at BILS
  • Medicaid Government — Program eligibility is restricted to individuals enrolled in Medicaid, indicating a formal affiliation with the Medicaid system.
  • NY Connects Network — Participates in the NY Connects statewide program to provide information and assistance to older adults and people with disabilities.
  • NY Connects Partner — Collaborates with NY Connects to connect individuals with disability and aging services across New York State.
  • NYC Precincts Partner — Engages in criminal justice advocacy with local police precincts on behalf of crime victims.
  • New York Association on Independent Living Partner — Partners to provide Housing and Independent Living Specialists for outreach, enrollment assistance, unit selection, and service planning.
  • Office of Victims’ Services Partner — Collaborates to assist victims in filing compensation claims for expenses related to crime victimization.
  • Shahara Toro Partner — Director of Remote Services at BILS, involved in delivering benefits advisement services.
  • Soji Adu Partner — Deputy Director involved in the Disability Awareness Program
  • Ticket to Work program Partner — Works with the Ticket to Work program to provide vocational services to Social Security beneficiaries with disabilities.
strategies · 5

How they approach the work

Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.

  • Barrier Removal for Systemic Integration
    methodology: barrier-removal
    By identifying and dismantling systemic barriers in social, economic, and civic systems, the organization advances independence for people with disabilities, because removing structural obstacles enables full participation and self-determination.
  • Consumer-Controlled Empowerment Model
    methodology: consumer_control
    By placing people with disabilities in primary leadership and decision-making roles, the organization fosters empowerment and systemic change, because lived experience ensures services are designed with authenticity, dignity, and accountability to the community served.
  • Housing-First with Wraparound Supports
    methodology: housing_first
    By providing housing subsidies through programs like Section 8 and Olmstead without preconditions, and combining them with coordinated support services, the organization enables deinstitutionalization and community integration, because stable housing is foundational to autonomy and engagement in recovery, employment, and civic life.
  • Peer-Led Reintegration Strategy
    methodology: peer_support
    By using peer advocates with lived experience of institutionalization and disability, the organization increases engagement and success in community reintegration, because shared experience builds trust, models possibility, and enhances relevance of support.
  • Person-Centered Wraparound for Survivors
    methodology: wraparound-support-for-victims-with-disabilities
    By delivering individualized, holistic services integrating crisis intervention, legal aid, and case management for crime victims with disabilities, the organization promotes safety and autonomy, because trauma-informed, needs-based support increases agency and long-term stability.