With a cigarette hedged between his fingers, the plainly-clothed man spoke of hardship. The man, whose name is being withheld by the Norwood News out of concern over any reprisals, is a resident at the recently opened men’s only homeless shelter at 3600 Jerome Ave., in front of Van Cortlandt Park.

The 200-bed shelter, which opened this past summer, houses the homeless who are mentally ill. A curfew is set at 10 p.m. and only clients who work late nights are allowed to skip it.

“The shelter’s not ready,” said the inside source. “Where is the security? There’s no maintenance guys here. They’re understaffed. They have four or five counselors.”

However, according to the Department of Homeless Services (DHS), which runs the shelter with support from community-based human service organization BronxWorks, there are roughly 15 social service staff and a minimum of seven security officers overseen by shift supervisors who work closely with the Police Department.

“This specialized facility provides New Yorkers experiencing homelessness and mental health challenges with the targeted supports they need to stabilize their lives, including medical and mental health services, expert clinical staff, individual and group counseling, and connections to additional care in the community,” says DHS spokesperson Arianna Fishman. “Working in close partnership with not-for-profit social service provider BronxWorks, we’re confident that we will make this the best experience it can be for these individuals as they get back on their feet.”

Some residents were unaware of the shelter’s existence. Residents were alerted of the shelter through Community Board 7.

Onekki Clarke, a 15-year resident of the neighborhood, had only realized there was a nearby shelter when a Family Dollar employee told her about a homeless man entering the store’s bathroom with a roll of toilet paper. “Homeless has always been an issue here. There’s a park and [Bronx Dance Academy] down the block so what are they doing with the pedophiles? Are there people on the registry?”

The shelter’s close proximity to Bronx Dance Academy, a sixth-to-eighth grade school that specializes in classical ballet, modern dance and visual arts, was an issue with residents prior to opening.

Felix Hernandez, manager of the Family Dollar a block away from the shelter, could not confirm Clarke’s story, but says, “I could see it happening. They steal food from the store and do a five-course meal. I had to kick out a couple [of them] standing in front of the store.”

“I didn’t even know they opened up around here. First time I hear about a shelter,” said 29-year resident Woody Rivera, who sees homeless at night on the corner of Jerome Avenue and 213th Street and in Van Cortlandt Park.

There are 1,531 people in homeless shelters across the city from Community District 7. DHS notes 1,195 homeless that are estimated to be in the district’s shelters.