Such was the plight of a Chicago family with ten people, 8 of which are children. They were forced out of their rental apartment, which they did not know already fell to foreclosures, and into homelessness. The Chamber’s family was renting a unit in a building in Lawndale when the landlord eventually abandoned his tenants as the property succumbed to foreclosures.

With no utilities left in the building after water pipes were dismantled and stolen (typical of abandoned foreclosed homes) the family suffered from the cold. The situation was aggravated when drug dealers and lawless elements started occupying areas in the building, which finally forced the Chamber’s family to move out of their apartment for fear of their own safety.

The family had no choice but to stay with a relative, who also has three kids, in a meager two-bedroom apartment. No landlord would provide an apartment for a big family of 10. With many renters moving out of foreclosed properties, more people will be vying for any available rental slots. If the Chambers family failed to get assistance with their plight, they would end up living in a car.

Chambers already sought assistance from the local governments but received minimal help. What aggravated her situation was that they didn’t receive any official eviction papers after the property fell to foreclosures. These should have qualified them for some direct assistance from the state. With a growing number of foreclosures which involved rental units, the city has been flooded with renters who do not have a place to go, which scrambled community and non-profit organizations.

However, these groups can only do so much and would require additional help from state and city officials. These groups are clamoring for an immediate task force from the city to resolve this issue quickly and help these families off the streets.

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• Illinois Foreclosures Still High in Chicago and Beyond