Tenants of the Mitchell Houses in the South Bronx say they live in housing hell, where broken elevators, sporadic running water and garbage-strewn hallways are the norm.

The building's elevator has been broken for months, forcing some to climb as many as 18 flights of stairs, tenants say.

"It's not fair to people who live on the 18th floor," says Carmen Lugo, who lives on the building's fifth floor. "They wait for six hours to get up there sometimes."

Tenants say they've made calls to the city's 311 line to report the deplorable conditions, but officials with the Department of Buildings say the elevator has been inspected 41 times and has no violations.

Efforts by News 12 The Bronx to reach the New York City Housing Authority about the complaints have so far been unsuccessful.