Pols: Crack down on DeB’s deadbeats

The leaders of two legislative oversight committees demanded answers from the city’s Department of Homeless Services on Tuesday after The Post exposed its deadbeat ways.

“I think it undermines the city’s credibility,” said Councilman Ritchie Torres (D-Bronx), who chairs the Oversight and Investigations Committee and called for hearings.

“There are providers who refuse to do business with the city because they have been waiting indefinitely for payment.”

The council’s Contracts Committee chairman echoed that concern.

“I hear this often and it is very concerning,” Councilman Justin Brannan (D-Brooklyn) tweeted Tuesday. “Outside groups we rely on to provide critical services to NYC should be paid in full and on time. I will dig and get to the bottom of this.”

Their comments came after The Post revealed that DHS has been late in registering and paying 78 percent of its contracts since 2013.

Since 2013, 43 percent of DHS’s contracts were more than 100 days late in being registered, which stalls payments to vendors. In some cases, the delays stretched for more than a year.

“We are working diligently to expedite the process and resolve any issues,” said Isaac McGinn, a department spokesman.

“We stand by our legal and moral obligation to provide shelter on any given night, and must open shelters as quickly as possible to close ineffective clusters and expensive hotels.”

Allison Sesso, executive director of the Human Services Council, said of the late payments, “These nonprofits are operating on extremely thin margins and there’s little room for error.

“Nonprofits can’t wait for these contracts to get registered.”

Outside groups . . . should be paid in full and on time. — Councilman Justin Brannan (right)