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Patrice Joseph believed she was singled out when she complained about cigarette smoke and plumbing problems at the homeless shelter where she and her teenage son and daughter lived in Jamaica, Queens.

Within days last month, the family was moved to a shelter in the Bronx. Ms. Joseph, who had two jobs, said she lost a position at a Queens pharmaceutical manufacturing company because she was often late for work or absent.

“This affects our day-to-day more than people imagine,” Ms. Joseph, 38, said. At her request, she was then moved to a third shelter, in Briarwood, Queens, she said .

More than 130,000 people stay in the city’s sprawling shelter system annually. Placements are based on what is available, and the city says it must sometimes move people to protect safety and health. But for years, many shelter residents have complained about being moved for seemingly no reason, while being given little notice or a chance to appeal.