Squatter families evicted

MIAMI (WSVN) -- No more eviction notices for those squatting in a South Florida home. It's time to move out.

"It was revealed by some of the neighbors that they have no rights to the house," said Miami Police Commander Manuel Morales. "There has also been a couple of issues and a couple of disturbances between the neighbors and the individuals that took over the property."

There were small children and several teenagers walking out of the house at 210 NE 44 St., Tuesday.

Neighbors said the house is in the process of foreclosure. "These people are not allowed to be in the home," said Carlos Carillo. "You cannot squat in a home that has a mortgage, which that home currently does."

The neighbors said, about one month ago, they noticed several families had moved into the house. State law allows a home to be occupied if it is abandoned, but in this case, neighbors said, the law does not apply because there is a mortgage on the house.

Police said they were called several times by the neighbors and arrived to the scene and forced the family to move out. "Some individuals took possession of a home," said Morales. "We got called in by the neighbors in reference to a possible disturbance. When they arrived, the occupants of the house showed the responding officers some documents that they had taken possession of the house legally. The owner of the house was advised to file for an eviction."

It's unclear how many people lived at the home, but there were numerous children. "The only reason that those people are not living there tonight," said Carillo, "is because five or six of us neighbors got together and called every organization you can imagine to try and get them out of the neighborhood."

The family has until 7 p.m. to be completely out of the home. In the meantime, the city has a program known as the Homeless Assistance Team, which will provide the families with a place to stay.

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