Here are some of the worst rooms for rent in NYC

whynot_31

@pragmaticguy -
In this case, around 50 people are living in windowless rooms in a former MDs office: http://www.thenewyorkworld.com/2015/03/18/housing-unwanted/

The story doesn't dig to the next level and point out that HRA is paying the bills, nor does it point out how DOB and FDNY have been told to not enforce the building codes as a result of the city's shelter crisis:

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-03-10/nyc-s-record-homeless-population-seeks-shelter-at-laguardia

Rooms have to be even more of a fire and safety hazard than these for the city to step in.

whynot_31

I know 2 of the people quoted in today's NYT article on 3/4 houses: http://mobile.nytimes.com/2015/05/31/nyregion/three-quarter-housing-a-choice-for-recovering-addicts-or-homelessness.html?referrer=

whynot_31

Here is the crowd that just a little better off than group that lives in 3/4 houses: http://m.nydailynews.com/new-york/exclusive-surge-number-overcrowded-nyc-apartments-article-1.2385078

whynot_31

The attention created by the NYT article has already waned, and most of the attention was focused on the houses that "cooperate" with substance abuse treatment providers in order to "make ends meet".

Meanwhile, here's an account of the majority of 3/4 houses: Those that serve people who are desperately poor and do not affiliate with substance abuse treatment facilities: http://talkpoverty.org/2015/10/16/went-prison-60-years-old-heres-learned/

whynot_31

http://nynmedia.com/news/housing-overcrowding-is-worsening-advocates-say

whynot_31

Given them all the media attention you want, but 3/4 houses are not going to go away.    The city needs them too much.

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/28/nyregion/new-york-faces-struggle-in-curbing-flophouse-schemes-that-victimize-addicts.html

whynot_31

And, crowded apartments that present fire traps are not going away, either:

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/01/nyregion/overcrowding-worsens-in-new-york-as-working-families-double-up.html?_r=0

whynot_31

Here's four photos of a boarding house in Chinatown taken today:  

https://twitter.com/SoBendito/status/709824852534939652

whynot_31

Attempts to rein in the 3/4 house industry, while being careful not to put it out of business:

http://therealdeal.com/2016/04/19/city-council-to-consider-5-bills-aimed-at-unregulated-three-quarter-homes/

whynot_31

Manslaughter.

http://ditmasparkcorner.com/blog/crime/flatbush-landlord-indicted-manslaughter-fatal-fire/