NEW YORK (PIX11) -- Ebou Sarr owns both of the makeshift migrant shelters shut down this week by the NYPD; one in Queens and the other in the Bronx.

Around 130 West African men from Sarr's native Senegal and surrounding countries are now left scrambling for housing.

In a recent interview, Mayor Eric Adams did not specifically criticize Sarr, but added, generally speaking, those who exploit innocent people must be held accountable.

PIX11 News asked Sarr, who emigrated from Senegal almost three decades ago, if he believed he was exploiting the migrant men who paid him roughly $300 a month for a bed in his two business locations.  

"I'm not exploiting anybody. Like I said before in the past, we're helping ourselves because they're not helping us," said Sarr.

Sarr did acknowledge the health, fire, and safety concerns raised by many people living in a space not designed for residential use.

Neighboring business owner Nashley Fernandez said prior to the shelter’s shutdown, she worried about its impact on her business.

"It's a lot of guys standing outside, and we mostly take female clients," said Fernandez.

The latest stats only further complicate this debate.

Between New York City's “traditional” homeless population and migrants, there are now a combined 120,000 people living in the city’s shelter system, according to the Adams administration.

And while Sarr's makeshift migrant shelters are now topping the headlines, the reality is that countless struggling New York City residents, including Bronx resident George Arroyo, continue to pay monthly or even weekly for a single bed in a crowded room inside a stranger’s apartment.

"This is nothing new! I've been paying like $150, $200 every week for a room just to sleep. I can't cook. You can't do anything. I've been doing that for a lot of years. I'm not surprised because people don't want to be outside on the street in the cold," said Arroyo.

Sarr said he has no regrets.

"We need change. We're not going to let our people out there sleeping in the streets. It's wrong. We're all equal," said Sarr.

PIX11 News asked Sarr if he's already directed the migrants who were under his care to the reticketing center in Manhattan's East Village. He said the men are aware but remain hesitant because of the wait to land another 30-day stay in a city shelter. He said most have now resorted to sleeping on the trains.

PIX11 News also reached out to both fire and buildings officials. Both agencies issued violations to the building owners. It's unclear if Sarr has any connection to either LLC that owns the building. In any case, the building owners are facing a maximum of $50,000 in fines from the Department of Buildings and a maximum of $8,000 in fines from the fire department.