>>
>> MORGAN
>> MORGAN ROMERO SHOWS US WHAT HAPPENS WHEN SQUATTERS SETTLE
INTO A HOUSE IN NORTH PORTLAND.
>> THEY WERE COMING THROUGH
THIS YARD OVER HERE OVER THE
WOODEN FENCE.
WOODEN FENCE. >> WINDOWS AND DOORS DID NOT
KEEP THEM OUT.
>> THIS IS THE DOOR THEY WERE
KICKING IN ALL THE TIME TO GET
IN.
IN.
IN. THEY
IN. THEY BROKE THE WINDOW UP THERE
ORIGINALLY TO GET IN.
>> SQUATTERS MADE THIS LITTLE
BLUE HOUSE IN NORTH PORTLAND
THEIR HOME.
THEIR HOME. FOR MONTHS.
FOR MONTHS. >> AT NIGHTTIME THEY WOULD COME
OUT THE EARLY MORNING HOURS .
>>> NEIGHBORS SAY THEY WERE
DOING DRUGS .
>>> IT'S VERY DIFFICULT BECAUSE
WE HAVE MULTI-GENERATIONS
LIVING HERE, GREAT-GRANDSON .
>>> AFTER THE HOMEOWNER PASSED
AWAY THE HOUSE SAT VACANT .
>>> SHE HAD LIVED THERE FOR
ABOUT 40 YEARS.
>>REPORTER: SHE DID NOT HAVE
CLOSE BLOOD RELATIVES TO TAKE
OVER HER HOME SO IT WENT UP TO
THE STATE WHICH WENT ON THE
HUNT FOR AN AIR .
>>> DURING THAT TIME HE HAD
BROKEN INTO AND THEN SOMEONE
KEPT BREAKING IN AND THEY MADE
HER HOUSE THEIR HOME .
>>> THAT IS WHERE OUR STORY
STARTED.
STARTED.
STARTED. >> THIS ATTORNEY WAS BROUGHT IN
TO REPRESENT THE STATE.
>> TO CHANGE THE LOCKS, THEY PUT
THE GARBAGE SERVICE INTO THEIR
OWN NAMES.
OWN NAMES. >> HE SAYS THE PLACE WAS LEFT
UNLIVABLE .
UNLIVABLE . >>> IT WAS COVERED IN BLACK
MOLD AND GARBAGE, COMPLETELY
UNSAFE.
UNSAFE.
UNSAFE. >> HE ASKED FOR HELP TO GET THE
SQUATTERS OUT BUT THEY COULDN'T
DO ANYTHING .
>>> THE ONLY WAY TO GET THEM
OUT IS TO GET A COURT ORDER
APPROVING THEY WERE NOT TENANTS
THEY COULD NOT REMAIN, PROVING
THEY WERE NOT RENTERS. DURING
WHICH TIME WHOEVER IS IN THE
HOME WILL REMAIN IN THE HOME .
>>> THERE IS NO PROTECTED FOR
THE OWNER, THE SQUATTERS HAVE
MORE RIGHTS.
MORE RIGHTS. >> HE'S VERY ACTIVE.
>>REPORTER: HE SAYS NEIGHBORS
ARE IGNORED DURING THE PROCESS.
>> I THINK IT WILL BLOW
ANYONE'S MIND WHO LIVES IN THE
NEIGHBORHOOD.
NEIGHBORHOOD. >> HE TOOK THINGS INTO HIS OWN
HANDS AND PASSED OUT FLYERS
EXPECT I WALKED AROUND WITH
LEAFLETS TO TRY TO MAKE THEM
AWARE AND HAVE EYES .
>>> THE NEXT-DOOR NEIGHBOR,
EYRING SCHUSTER ALSO TRIED TO
GET HELP.
GET HELP.
GET HELP. >> I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MANY
TIMES I CALLED POLICE AND
NOTHING COULD BE DONE.
>> AFTER SMITH FILED AN
EVICTION COMPLAINT, THE PROCESS
DRUG ON FOR ABOUT THREE WEEKS.
HE FINALLY SECURED AN EVICTION
NOTICE ENSURES DEPUTIES REMOVED
THE SQUATTERS.
THE SQUATTERS. THE SAGA ENDED THEY PACKED UP
AND LEFT.
AND LEFT.
AND LEFT. >> THE POLICY IS TRYING TO
PROTECT THE TENANTS AS MUCH IS
POSSIBLE AND THERE'S A PORTION
THAT HAS BEEN MISSED .
>>> THE PROBLEM IS SQUATTERS
ARE BEING TREATED AS LEGITIMATE
TENANTS.
TENANTS.
TENANTS. >> IF SOMEONE HAS ENTERED AND
REMAINED ILLEGALLY IT'S A
SEPARATE ISSUE.
SEPARATE ISSUE. >> THEY THINK IT SHOULD BE A
CRIMINAL NOT CIVIL ISSUE.
>> THEY'VE BROKEN INTO A HOME
THAT THEY ARE ON PROPERTY THEY
HAVE NO PERMISSION BEING ON
COST OF THEY'VE BROKEN THE LAW.
>> ON THE OTHER HAND SMITH SAYS
THESE CASES ARE MISSED
OPPORTUNITIES TO HELP
COMMUNITIES MOST VULNERABLE WHO
ARE LIVING IN FILTH OR UNSAFE
CONDITIONS.
CONDITIONS. >> THAT'S THE OPPORTUNITY FOR
AN OFFICER AND A SOCIAL WORKER
TO SAY THERE ARE BETTER OPTIONS
, WE HAVE PLACES TO BE .
>>> THIS LITTLE BLUE HOUSE IS
NOW UNDERGOING RENOVATIONS
BEFORE GOING ON THE MARKET. IN
THE INTERIM IT WILL STAY VACANT
.
.
. >>>
. >>> I
. >>> I DON'T FEEL LIKE IT'S
FINISHED.
FINISHED.
FINISHED. >> NEIGHBORS WILL STAY ON EDGE.
SECOND NOW, WHAT WE HAVE TO TRY
TO DO TO PROTECT OUR PROPERTY,
EVERYTHING HAS TO BE POSTED, NO
TRESPASSING .
TRESPASSING . >>> EVERYONE IS WATCHING THE
HOUSE.
HOUSE.
HOUSE. >>
HOUSE. >> NOW, THIS IS A UNIQUE CASE
WHERE THE HOUSE IS IN PROBATE
AND THERE WAS NOT SOMEONE
IMMEDIATELY THAT COULD TAKE IT
OVER, BUT IT DOES OFTEN HAPPEN
IN HOMES IN FORECLOSURE OR
RENTAL PROPERTIES.
RENTAL PROPERTIES. EXPERTS SAY THE BEST THING YOU
CAN DO IS KEEP WATCH OVER YOUR
PLACE TO EDUCATE YOURSELF ON
THE ISSUE AND IF YOUR PROPERTY
IS VACANT AND IN A DIFFERENT
STATES, CONSIDER HIRING A
PROPERTY MANAGEMENT COMPANY.
REALTORS SAY THE BEST THAT IS
POSTING NO TRESPASSING SIGNS
WHERE THEY CAN BE EASILY SPOTTED
AND CONSIDER INSTALLING AN
ALARM.
ALARM.
ALARM. IF
ALARM. IF THIS DOES HAPPEN TO YOU LET
POLICE