CHICAGO (WLS) — As an icy chill grips the Chicago region, some elderly residents at Evergreen Tower are resorting to portable heaters and even using their ovens to combat the cold. They claim numerous units are experiencing heating malfunctions.
“The more we voice our concerns, the more we hear, ‘We’re working on it.’ That’s the absolute truth,” shared Patricia Jordan, a resident at Evergreen Tower.
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Jordan’s portable heater hums continuously, a vital necessity in her chilly apartment.
“In the mornings, it feels as if we’re outdoors. Many tenants are growing weary of this situation,” Jordan explained. “Touch my hands right now, and you’ll find them ice cold.”
She added, “Turning off my oven makes the room so cold you can almost see your breath.”
Jordan has relied on these alternative heating methods since November, as most senior units in Evergreen Tower either have insufficient heating or none at all.
“There is a wall unit along the wall here,” Jordan said. “It cuts on. It cuts off, and that’s the end of it.”
That frustration comes as the National Weather Service has issued a Winter Weather Advisory through 8 a.m. Wednesday.
So, with bitterly cold temperatures in the forecast, many portable heaters will still be blaring inside until, residents say, the issue is fixed.
“He said, ‘This is beyond what I can do.’ And that was just a regular person who repairs things in the building,” said Evergreen Tower resident Elnora Danchimah. “They say, ‘Well, we’ll get to you.’ That was three months ago, but yet, I’m paying rent.”
Some residents say they are seeing their light bills soar, too, because they are using portable heaters and their ovens to stay warm.
“Here I am, 79 years old, and it’s no reason for me to have to live this way,” Jordan said.
ABC7’s own messages left for the property manager were not immediately returned.
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