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.
The law treats them like overstaying renters, not trespassers, and requires owners to go through the full eviction process in civil court.
A detailed analysis by Pacific Legal Foundation explains that this delay often forces homeowners to pay squatters to leave instead of waiting for costly court outcomes.
Growing Trend of Squatting in U.S. Cities
Illinois is not alone. Cities across the country are seeing a rise in squatting:
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Atlanta, Dallas, and Orlando had over 1,800 squatted homes in 2023, according to a national survey.
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In Georgia, squatting cases rose from 3 in 2017 to 198 by 2023.
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New York saw a fourfold increase in squatter disputes in the last four years.
Experts point out that the average legal eviction process in some states can cost thousands of dollars and last up to two years.
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Illinois Bill Could Change the Law
In response, state lawmakers have introduced Senate Bill 1563, a proposal that would allow police to immediately remove squatters from a home if the owner can prove legal ownership.
If passed, the bill would finally distinguish squatters from tenants and empower property owners to act without waiting months for a civil trial.
The bill has already advanced through committee and is moving toward a vote in the Illinois House.
Why This Matters for Every Illinois Resident
This is not just a Chicago issue — it’s a statewide concern. If you own property in Illinois, you could be at risk of having squatters take over and then being forced to go to court or pay them to leave.
The current system leaves homeowners vulnerable, and as squatting cases rise across the country, Illinois residents are demanding faster, fairer solutions.
Have you or someone you know faced squatting problems in Illinois? What steps do you think the state should take? Share your thoughts in the comments on ChicagoSuburbanFamily.com.
