A resident of the Salvation Army Red Shield Center on Broad Street in Philadelphia says she has been dealing with rats, mice and cockroaches during her months-long stay at the facility. “I’ve been there for two to three months and I’ve noticed very disturbing and disgusting things. Rodents such as rats, mice and roaches. It’s a very terrible infestation,” the resident said. The resident, who asked to remain anonymous out of fear of retaliation, shared photos with NBC10 of what she said were some of the pests she has encountered at the shelter. She also shared a photo of overflowing trash cans and said she has seen cockroaches. She said she is concerned the conditions could be unhealthy for residents, including pregnant women and mothers with small children. “Staff, you know, they say they know but unfortunately they are not doing anything about it. Exterminators came out, you know, still nothing’s being done. It’s just terrible. It’s getting worse by the minute,” she said. Public records show the Philadelphia Department of Public Health inspected the property on Jan. 6, 2026. According to the public food facility inspection report, inspectors found visible evidence of rodent droppings they believed came from mice, as well as cockroach activity in the food preparation area. Inspectors noted that a pest control company was on site and that they were provided documentation of treatment efforts. A representative from the city’s Office of Homeless Services said the office is “aware of the complaints and continues to monitor the provider as it takes steps to remediate the issues with their building.” A Salvation Army captain confirmed that mice have been seen inside the facility. She said the shelter has increased exterminator visits and is following proper protocols to address the problem. The resident said she has nowhere else to go and hopes conditions at the shelter improve. Meanwhile, Philadelphia’s Office of Licenses and Inspections hasn’t inspected the property since 2024. That was a fire safety investigation and it passed, according to public records. “I’m hoping the City, the Salvation Army, the mayor as well come through. It’s terrible. This is not something I wanna see as a resident myself,” she said. This story was originally reported for broadcast by NBC Philadelphia. AI tools helped convert the story to a digital article, and an NBC Philadelphia journalist edited the article for publication. ...read more read less