Living in the USA Bronx Morris shelter, what some frustratingly name an establishment, is closer to a prison than a family shelter. This plea stems from deeply personal experience and devastation that the residents and I endure daily. I reside here in a shelter dubbed as a supposed asylum for families, but its conditions speak otherwise. Not to sound hyperbolic, but the place feels a lot like a prison, a sentiment commonly shared among us who call ourselves "Lifers"—we've been languishing here for years, with most having no feasible escape.

This shelter is in an appalling state. It is dilapidated, run down and reeked of neglect. Basic human necessities are denied—there's been no heat for three blistering years now, winter after winter, amidst the cries of freezing children and despondent parents. Hot water is a luxury that disappears after certain hours. It’s not just about discomfort; such conditions breed severe mental and physical health problems, an egregious violation of human rights.

Let me paint a picture: health code violations are as rampant as the indifference displayed by those meant to oversee and rectify them. Mold-infested walls, leaky ceilings, and a pervasive stench that has become the backdrop of our lives paint a grim existence. Complaints remain unanswered; instead, acts of compliance are pushed time and time again in the form of endless paperwork and bureaucratic runarounds.

This is not an isolated incident but a collective affliction. Residents feel powerless yet desperate for change, enduring these inhumane conditions. It’s time to amplify our voices and demand immediate improvements and justice for those stuck in these neglected shelters like the Bronx Morris.

Here's what we request:
1. Initiate a thorough inspection of the Bronx Morris establishment to identify health violations and bring those responsible for negligence to account.
2. Provide immediate solutions such as alternative housing and essential maintenance to improve living conditions.
3. Enforce regulations that ensure a safe and healthy living environment.
4. Hold those responsible for these violations accountable, ensuring this issue doesn't perpetuate in the shadows.

Every family deserves warmth, safety, and dignity in a place they call home, even temporarily. Sign this petition to demand humane conditions at the Bronx Morris shelter. Help us make this establishment accountable, ensuring nobody suffers the indignity that we, the lifers, have endured for too long.