CHICAGO (WLS) — The ABC7 Chicago I-Team is hearing from yet another homeowner who says squatters have moved into his property and refuse to leave.
An Illinois state representative lives right next-door, and has been watching the whole situation unfold.
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The state lawmaker, Marcus Evans, is calling on the governor to take action.
He said they picked the wrong block, and his community won’t stand for this.
“I realized it was an issue, but seeing it happen right in front of me on my own street in Avalon Park has been astonishing,” said Evans, who is the representative of the 33rd District.
Evans is getting a front-row seat to what some are calling a crisis in Illinois.
SEE MORE: South suburban property owner finally gets house back, says squatters lived in his home for months
Earlier this week, alleged squatters moved into his next-door neighbors’ home. He says the whole block is outraged.
“Surprised us all, taking these folks’ property. Squatting: It shouldn’t be allowed,” Evans said.
The real property owners, Linda Gomez and Rodrigo Leyva, say they recently put their house on the market.
When they came to check on it this week, they say the locks had been changed, and a family they’ve never seen before moved inside.
“They open, and say, ‘hey, this is my house.’ I said, ‘no, excuse me. That’s my house,'” Leyva said.
The couple recorded video of the alleged squatters.
The family reportedly first stated they had purchased the home. However, when the police arrived, the story changed to them having rented the property and having a lease agreement.
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Police ultimately said they couldn’t remove the people inside, and referred the homeowners to the eviction courts.
That’s the current process under Illinois law. And it can often take months.
“It’s difficult to work diligently for something. Yet, these people come and simply invade. They trespass into the house,” Gomez said. “It’s incredibly frustrating.”
“My neighbor, she said, ‘call Samantha,'” Leyva said.
Someone was seen peeking through the blinds of the home, but no one would come out to talk to ABC7 Chicago.
It’s a story the I-Team has been uncovering for months now: squatting in Illinois, a statewide fight.
In May, Illinois lawmakers passed a “squatter bill,” which would give police the power to remove squatters from someone’s property the moment the rightful owner can prove it’s their home.
That bill is currently sitting on Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker’s desk.
Its co-author, state Rep. La Shawn Ford, says it’s imperative the governor sign it into law.
“It’s happening all over the state. So, we’re shining a light to show the governor again, that his action is necessary, immediately,” said Ford, who represents the 8th District.
“I’m going to be calling the governor and the office today and ask him to immediately sign this,” Evans said.
“Sign it! Just sign it! That’s all you have to do, right?” Gomez said.
The governor’s office said it has not established a timeline to sign the bill.
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