The Legal Aid Society and housing advocates across the city are calling out the Department of Homeless Services for the conditions at 2093 Madison Avenue, an ex-“cluster site” building formerly paid by the city to temporarily house the homeless that has been converted for permanent living.

Tenants of these buildings – many of whom had previously been living in shelters – were promised new, fully-functional apartments, but found instead unfinished, unsanitary units managed by unresponsive, indifferent owners who simply ignore their tenants’ complaints, as reported by City Limits.

Tenants from eleven apartments have now organized to demand the renovations they say they were promised from the start, and question why the city has not held the two companies accountable for the improvements and safety after shepherding the purchase and conversion.

“We think it’s important for the city to take control of these properties that have been mismanaged,” said Josh Goldfein, a staff attorney at the Legal Aid Society. “But the not-for-profit providers have to meet their obligations to ensure that the apartments are properly maintained for the people who are living there.”