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Comptroller Stringer: Families Living 'Daily Nightmare' At NYC Homeless Shelters

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Most of New York City's homeless are living in deplorable conditions, and part of the problem may be that there's not enough staff to oversee shelters, according to a new report.

The office of city Comptoller Scott Stringer, which released the report, found rodents, roaches and vermin in more than half of the homeless shelters or apartments that were audited.

"We are talking about obscene living conditions right here in New York -- one of the world's richest cities," Stringer said.

Eighty-seven percent of the apartments inspected at the direction of Stringer also had structural or safety issues, including malfunctioning smoke detectors, blocked fire escapes, mold and mildew.

"These families live a daily nightmare," Stringer said. "When it comes to housing and protecting children and families, DHS (Department of Homeless Services) has fallen tragically, horribly short."

The department had 14 staffers assigned to oversee 155 shelters with 12,500 families, meaning each was responsible for 11 shelters, and 900 families, Stringer said.

"When DHS doesn't monitor its facilities, New Yorkers suffer," Stringer said. "Without oversight, the city has no idea whether the shelters are safe, clean and appropriate for families with children to be staying there. DHS must increase inspections, file its reports and make sure that the shelters are safe," Stringer said.

Stringer isn't blaming any one politician or agency, but he is "calling on the administration to immediately hire a deputy mayor with the skills and experience necessary to create a bold new plan of action on homelessness in the city."

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