With the support of elected officials, residents at the New York School of Urban Ministry dorm are denouncing recent eviction notices. NY1's Van Tieu filed the following report.

Classical singer, Linda Smith, said that everyone who lives at the New York School of Urban Ministry dorm on 46th street give back to the community in some way.  

She said that her gift to the community is sharing music with others.

Now, the residents of the dorm are being pushed out of neighborhood with an expectation the property will turn in a private homeless shelter, not affiliated with the city. 

"He pulled the rug from out underneath us,” Smith said of her "landlord", during a press conference outside the dorm on Monday morning.

Residents said they first received 30-day eviction notices from Reverend Peter Derruda in late November.

Over the weekend, residents of the dorm were offered a one month extension, which would allow them to stay in their homes until January 31.

The offer was made, in writing, and came from from the school’s lawyer, Ira Clair.

While many residents of the dorm interpreted the note as an agreement to forfeit their tenant’s rights, Clair said that is not true.

He said that signing the document would not bar residents from challenging the landlord in housing court.

Elected officials want to know where the school's compassion is, considering it is a Christian-based organization.

 "Kicking low income residents out of their home in the middle of December in the cold is heartless. And quite frankly if you ask me, it’s asinine it makes absolutely not sense," said Assemblywoman Aravella Simotas.

Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer said the move would make the city's homeless crisis worse.

“Rescind the eviction notices, work with the residents, so that they can continue to live at this facility and the church can continue with its work,” Van Bramer said.

Residents estimate that 85% of the building’s current tenants would be on the street if the eviction does happen.

Mariluz Roman, a hairdresser who volunteers at the food pantry in the building, said she has no option but to fight the eviction. 

"It’s like we’re considered the elite homeless and they’re [they potential homeless shelter residents] the lesser homeless. But either way we’ll end up homeless," she said.

Lauren Gray, Spokeswoman for the Department of Homeless Services confirmed that the city does not have plans to open a shelter at the location, although they say it was considered at one time.

“The City has had no intention of pursuing this location since November 17. At the time the City considered this property, it had no knowledge that there were residents living at this location who would be displaced. We are currently working to connect tenants at this location to free anti-eviction legal services,” Gray said in a statement.

The ministry school's attorney said there is a prospective long-term tenant, but would not discuss any further details of the deal.

Clair said the ministry school loses money every month operating the building as is and that they simply cannot finance the building.

He added, the ministry is upset with the backlash but plans to follow through with the legal proceedings.

Smith and Roman said they intend to take with their pastor landlord to housing court.