Aurora Addresses 'Dire Circumstances' For Displaced Residents

AURORA, IL — The City of Aurora says it is working to help the dozens of families who were displaced from their homes in the former YMCA building after its owners violated multiple city codes. The residents, who were staying in a hotel paid for by the landlords until Sept. 9, were recently given $1000 by the building's owners to help cover moving expenses, Aurora spokesperson Clayton Muhammed said in a statement Tuesday.

"The situation which has occurred at 480 Garfield Avenue is unfortunate to the displaced residents of the property," the statement begins.

Muhammed goes on to say the city is working to find accommodations for dozens of residents who were informed on Aug. 31 that they needed to vacate their homes.

The building's owners have paid for hotel lodging for residents through Monday.

The property has been subject to multiple building safety code violations in recent months that ultimately led to building being declared uninhabitable, Muhammed said.

The first recent notice that the building was unsafe was posted on Aug. 2, a "full four weeks prior to the letter of eviction from the owner," Muhammed said. After no apparent action was taken, the city posted another notice on Aug. 7, that said the building was occupied unlawfully.

On Aug. 23, Aurora officials posted another notice that the building needed to be vacated.

Aurora Families Lose Apartments After Building Code Violations

Former residents of 480 Garfield told Patch they were under the impression they would eventually be able to return to their homes. One resident, Ashley Cluchey, told Patch they were informed on Sept. 3 that they would not be able to return to their homes

Cluchey, like other residents of 480 Garfield, has been spending her time gathering belongings from her former home and trying to find a new home on short notice.

Muhammed said Aurora is working with local landlords and social service organizations to make sure each family has somewhere to stay due to the "dire circumstances" of the situation. He said the city gave rental referral information to the owner of the property, but "that was clearly not disseminated to the residents in an expeditious manner.