PEORIA, Ill. – The Peoria and Illinois ACLU chapters say they are getting involved in the plight of more than two dozen East Bluff renters that say they just got eviction notices from their Texas-based landlord.
The residents of homes rented out by an outfit called “Darwin Homes” all would have to move just after Christmas, so they went to the City Council for help.
“Many of those affected by Darwin’s actions have been living in the community for some time,” said Kristen Meierkord, Peoria ACLU chapter president. “They’re our neighbors and our friends, our family and our fellow Peoria residents, and now they are in crisis.”
Meierkord is also president of the East Bluff Neighborhood Association.
One such tenant of Darwin Homes — Raychell Washington — says she definitely DOES want to move out of her Darwin Home, just not right now.
“I don’t know what I’ve got to do to stay in my home just a little bit longer,” said Washington. “I do want to leave; I don’t want to be under Darwin. I just need a little bit of time to move. Five days after Christmas, four kids, I don’t have the funds right now, and rent has skyrocketed to $1,300, $1,400 for houses that I need.”
An attorney previously told 25 News it’s legal for a landlord to serve a 30-day eviction notice, especially if a tenant is on a month-to-month lease.
“They haven’t gone through the legal process,” said Lawrence Maushard, community activist and City Council candidate in next April’s election. “These letters are not coming through the court process. I’m not a lawyer, an eviction expert, but that has to be looked at.”
Darwin Homes has not returned WMBD’s messages seeking comment. The City Council did not take action on the residents’ requests Tuesday.
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