cluster sites

Stringer's inquiry raises the question of how the city handled the negotiations with the Podolskys, whose buildings had a history of violations.

The city has agreed to purchase 468 cluster site apartments from a reputed slumlord, a deal that was politically unpalatable but which homeless advocates argued was necessary.

Homeless advocates say taking over the poorly managed units and converting them into permanently affordable housing for the homeless is the best outcome, even if a bad landlord stands to profit from it.

According to the report, the city spends $400,000 per day renting hotel rooms for the homeless.

More than 60,000 people—25,000 of them children—will sleep in the city's shelter system tonight.