A broken elevator is stranding Bridgeport seniors inside their apartment complex.

Residents on the upper floors of Augustana Homes at 280 Jewett Ave. in Bridgeport say the broken elevator in their building is keeping them from leaving.

They say the outage started Monday, and residents like 93-year-old Nancy Palmieri say they worry of an emergency or a fire.

Joe Lengyel says he's had to miss doctor appointments because he couldn't get out of the building.

"It's kind of totally done me in because I cannot climb stairs," Lengyel said.

U.S. Marine Corps veteran Don Pavia says climbing up and down the stairs all week has worsened his chronic health conditions.

"We all pay our taxes, and we still can't get no breaks and it's a shame," said Pavia.

The owners of the building say they will swiftly resolve the issue. Local leaders say these residents have enough to worry about without being trapped in their homes.

Mayor Joe Ganim said in a statement, "Today I reported the elevator outage at Augustana Homes to the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development. Protecting the health, safety and welfare of Bridgeport seniors is of paramount importance, and my administration will not rest until service has been restored at this complex."