Judge Denies Extension, South Shore Residents Face Urgent Eviction

UPDATE: Residents of a Chicago apartment building raided by federal immigration agents are facing an urgent crisis as a Cook County judge has denied their plea for more time to relocate. During an emergency hearing on December 11, 2023, Judge Debra Ann Seaton upheld the December 12 move-out deadline, leaving tenants scrambling to find new homes.

The building, located at 7500 South Shore Drive, has been deemed uninhabitable due to severe safety issues, including a lack of heat and fire hazards. Judge Seaton emphasized that the eviction order was not arbitrary, stating, “This court is not making anybody homeless… The court is working with a receiver who is actively engaged in finding relocation strategies for tenants.” However, residents argue that the support offered is insufficient.

Residents are frustrated with the relocation assistance provided by Friedman Communities, which only includes a one-time payment of $2,500 upfront and another $2,500 once keys are returned. Tenant Raymond Corona, who has lived in the building for two years, expressed his dismay, saying, “They’re handing us a paper to find other apartment buildings… when you call those numbers, no one answers, or the numbers are disconnected.”

Another resident, Larry Ashley, voiced similar concerns, revealing that he was offered just $1,500 and a tight deadline to vacate. “What am I going to do, eat the money?” he questioned, highlighting the impossible situation residents face.

Tenant organizers from the 7500 South Shore Tenant Union held a news conference immediately after the hearing, stressing that many residents only learned of the move-out date on November 26. Organizer Infiniti Gant countered Judge Seaton’s claims about timely communication, saying, “People found out about this vacate date on November 26th… tenants didn’t know about it.”

Judge Seaton has also taken issue with Mayor Brandon Johnson‘s attempts to intervene on behalf of the tenants, describing his efforts as “undue influence.” In a letter dated November 4, Mayor Johnson urged Friedman to postpone the move-out deadline and provide each household with $7,500 for relocation costs. Seaton dismissed this request, maintaining that the building poses significant safety hazards.

In a statement, a spokesperson for the Mayor’s Office clarified that the request was made to prevent homelessness, acknowledging the deplorable conditions tenants face. The Mayor’s office noted, “The Mayor has not been presented with a comprehensive plan to re-house the tenants by the deadline provided by the Court.”

As residents brace for the impending eviction, tenant Darren Hightower expressed his frustrations about the logistics of finding new housing. The meeting he had scheduled with Friedman representatives was abruptly canceled, forcing him to take additional time off work to seek new accommodations. “I’m killing my hours now… what is it looking like now?” he lamented, emphasizing the downward spiral this situation has created.

The emotional toll on residents is palpable. Raymond Corona stated, “I am being forced out of my home because of a series of choices that I did not make.” He highlighted the unfairness of the situation, noting that the tenants had raised concerns about the building’s conditions long before federal agents raided the complex on September 30.

As the clock ticks down to the December 12 deadline, the plight of residents at the South Shore building remains urgent. Organizers are calling for immediate action to ensure that tenants are not left homeless in the middle of winter. The next few days will be critical as these individuals seek safe housing solutions amid overwhelming uncertainty.