Thousands of homeless families have moved out of the shelter system during the de Blasio administration into what it calls permanent housing, but NY1 has learned that a small number of those families no longer even call New York home and instead live hundreds of miles away in other cities and states in moves that City Hall is helping pay for. NY1's Courtney Gross filed the following report.

Minett Ramos used to be homeless. 

"With assistance from DHS, they placed me here," Ramos said.

The city's Department of Homeless Services moved Ramos and her two children four months ago. 

The bathroom is missing a window. Mold stretches across the ceiling.

And there is something else Ramos dislikes. The apartment is in Newark, New Jersey. 

According to data NY1 received through the Freedom of Information Law, the city is finding homes for a small number of homeless individuals and families all across the country. Every marker here shows where a homeless family or individual has been placed between July of 2015 and August of this year. There are 9,600 placements in all, and at least 184 are no longer city residents. Instead, they are in Florida or Atlanta or as far north as New Hampshire. Or in Newark. 

"I know I am not the only person they have done it to. There is probably much more people out there," Ramos said.

Just 10 miles outside of the city, it may be more affordable. This apartment is three bedrooms for just $1,200.

Out of the placements we examined, those made outside of the city are a tiny fraction, almost 2 percent. Nonetheless, it's not something the city is advertising it's doing. Officials are quietly shuttling families to the Garden State to look at apartments.

We found a family of 15 in one Newark apartment.

We talked to another couple with three kids here. They told the same story: the city paid their first four months rent and gave them a furniture voucher. Then, it sent them on their way. 

"They are not really mindful of their inspections," Ramos said. "Like, they are just worried about getting people out. They are just trying to do it as quick as possible, but they don't care where you are going."

Meanwhile, the administration in press releases and press conferences has only trumpeted that it has found New Yorkers homes. 

"We've helped now 32,000 people out of shelter and into real housing," Mayor Bill de Blasio said in April.

Steven Banks, the head of the city's homeless agency, describes the program, which dates back to 2013, like this:  

"That's looking at these homeless families with individual families with individual needs. The one-size-fits-all approach hasn't worked in the past," Banks said.

He told us the vast majority of the homeless placed outside of the five boroughs are receiving Section 8 vouchers, federal assistance that means they can move anywhere and use it. For 74 families, the city gives them a one-time subsidy to get them on their feet. 

"Making a one-shot payment about a $1,200 furniture allowance, plus four months rent in advance and a broker's fee, gave 74 families the ability to move out of shelter they otherwise wouldn't have had," Banks said. "It's their choice. They are not forced to."

Of course, back in Newark, Ramos doesn't like how her move worked out.

"We was better off in the shelter. We didn't have to deal with half the things I am dealing with now," she said.

She hopes her stay across the Hudson is only temporary.