People living at a Youngstown apartment complex are having to find somewhere else to stay as their building was just "red-tagged" by the city.

Youngstown's Code Enforcement and Blight Remediation Superintendent, Mike Durkin, says the building at 16 West Madison Street is in violation of health and safety codes.
He says the interior is full of bed bugs, cockroaches and rats. He says the basement, where people were sleeping on mattresses laid on the floor, was taking in sewage. In addition, the building itself has structural issues and exposed wiring throughout.

"The landlord should be embarrassed that he's allowing tenants to live like that and that he's taking money for letting them live in such deplorable circumstances,' said City Law Director, Jeff Limbian.

The Law Director estimates about 8 tenants had to be displaced.

A lot of the residents who live at the building tell 21 News they don't want to leave but when the city said they found out about the conditions inside, they stated they can't legally have people live in a place that is unsafe.

"It's a shame that the tenants are of such a fragile mind set that they don't even realize that is not how life is supposed to be. We've already accommodated most with either adult protective services or Catholic Charities," added Limbian.

Some residents complained they aren't being given enough time to move out but the city says agencies are helping them find temporary housing.

Durkin says once the owner makes the necessary repairs and has the insects and vermin exterminated, people will be allowed to move back in.

21 News was not able to locate the owner for comment.