Residents in Westchester Square are voicing their opposition to proposed homeless shelters in their neighborhoods. 

There were initially three proposed sites, but one was scrapped by the Department of Social Services. A concrete base on Blondell Avenue, which once housed car repair facilities and a junk yard is one that remains.

Sandi Lusk,Director of Westchester Square Reimprovement Organization, says contaminants from those sites have seeped into the ground – most of them cancer-causing chemicals and metals. Those suspicions have now been confirmed by the Department of Environmental Conservation.

Neighbors say the addition of the homeless facility will only endanger the health of those who stay in the shelter, which would be surrounded by industrial facilities and a New York City subway railyard.

The department told News 12 the price to clean up will cost about $350 million. They say they're concerned for the safety of the children and have reached out to Councilwoman Marjorie Velasquez.

“She understands what’s going on, and we have every confidence in her to hopefully stop this because this would be a disaster for the city, the people who live here, the budget,” says Lusk.

News 12 has reached out to Councilwoman Velasquez for comment.