This is scary and sad. In a city with such strong laws regarding lead paint (not to mention the sex abuse), how does this occur?

The Daily News reported yesterday that the city has paid for families to live in foreclosed homes, illegally converted apartments and dangerous flats. In some cases, landlords have shaken down tenants for extra rent.

In November 2008, Jones, her infant daughter and her 9-year-old, whose identity is being protected because of the allegations, moved into a shelter.

Eight months later, she was excited to find the Bushwick apartment approved by the Department of Homeless Services. She overlooked the broken kitchen window, missing front doorknob and disconnected kitchen sink, she said.

She worried about less visible violations like lead paint and heat that didn't work and urged landlord Kazi Hossain to fix them. He didn't.