The tenants of the Upper West side, where once was the hotel «Alexander», and now there is a new shelter for the homeless say the new neighbors turned their life to hell.
According to 34-year-old Flor Soto, give them no rest and repair work continued until 22.30, constant scandals of new residents and the music they include on all loudness. In addition to the apartment penetrating acrid marijuana smoke.
«I have never had such a stress, as it is now,» says the woman.
Flor Soto and her mother Hilda, removing one-bedroom apartment for $400 per month, are among the 11 tenants who refused to leave the house at 306 W. 94th Street after it was rented as a shelter for the homeless.
Tenants have tried in court to achieve a ban on the opening of the shelter, but to no avail. Today, January 29 will be another hearing on this case.
22-year-old Jennifer Gonzaga, who is studying for the physician assistant, also complains that homeless people smoke pot, the smoke from which permeates her Studio for $500 a month, worsening the condition of the lungs of her 3-year-old son.
«My son has been coughing more than usual, when we go through the corridors on the way to school,» says Jennifer.
Outraged Gonzaga and terrible state of the bathrooms and communal toilets. «Sometimes I do not even want to take a shower, but if I do it, first have to clean the whole bathroom,» said the woman.
Homeless people are also unhappy
One of the homeless 47-year-old Richard rice, says that he lost his job at the grocery market at Columbus Circle, where he was paid $15 per hour, because the city authorities kept postponing his move from the recent Freedom House shelter.
Rice is not like that in the new shelter it may not bring any food to his room, and his 17-year-old daughter, who is in-patient psychiatric treatment, is not able to visit him.
What authorities say
Press Secretary of the city’s Department of homeless called the claims unfounded Flor Soto. According to him, last month it was recorded «only 2 breaking the rules», both the offender were transferred to other shelters.
An employee of the company Praxis Housing Initiatives, administering shelter to give any comments has refused.
