CHICAGO — A South Side homeowner was recently forced to pay $4,300 to a pair of squatters just to get them out of his house — even though they never had any legal right to be there. Now, the case is sparking calls to fix what many see as a broken legal system in Illinois.
Squatting Case Sparks Outrage in Chicago
Marco Velazquez discovered that two people, Shermaine Powell-Gillard and her boyfriend Codarro, were illegally living in his family’s vacant home. When he called police, they showed officers what appeared to be a fake mortgage document.
Despite doubts about the document’s legitimacy, police told Marco he would have to file a civil eviction case in court before they could take action. The delay could’ve taken months — possibly even a year.
Rather than wait, Marco paid the squatters $4,300 to leave his property.
Why Squatting Is So Hard to Fight in Illinois
Under current Illinois law, people who trespass into a vacant home can claim “tenant” status, which means property owners can’t immediately remove them — even if they’ve never signed a lease…