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Two recent incidents have forced Evanston residents out of their homes and displaced businesses on Howard Street, Councilman Devon Reed, 8th Ward, said at a ward meeting Thursday night.
Last week, Cook County condemned an apartment building at 819 Howard Street that housed six people in three separate units. In the last two years, the tenants have faced major maintenance problems and leaks, they said at Thursday’s meeting. But the move to condemn the building made them evict without warning or accommodation.
They said that although the city is currently helping to house displaced residents in hotels, they are having trouble getting their property out of the condemned building and raising enough money to find a new home. One of the tenants said he contacted a local nonprofit for the homeless, but the organization was unable to help.
“This situation is very, very scary. It is wrong. I have nowhere to go. I have no family, my mother passed away, so I am alone,” said one of the displaced residents. “And it’s just me and my roommate, and it’s so hard.”
Ashley’s Beauty Supply at 751 Howard Street burned down in late July, and owner Sylvia Kiobe is trying to raise enough money to rebuild the business. A GoFundMe is raising money to help Kiob.
Local landlord Tina Paden, who attended the ward meeting, encouraged displaced residents and business owners to speak up at future City Council meetings to get more help from the city.
“It’s a shame that you can’t support three families if you can’t do that,” Padden said.
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