A Chicago woman spent the day protesting outside of her South Side home, demanding police remove the alleged squatters inside.
In Chicago's Roseland neighborhood, she planted signs near her property. She says an alleged squatter has been in there for months. She wants to send a message.
"This is my investment, my home. I am losing money every single day," Sheri Klaas said. "Squatting should not be allowed in any state, let alone this one."
Last October, her contractor informed her someone had moved into her property.
"He went in one of the entryways and saw somebody sitting on the couch with a dog, and then he called 911," Klaas said.
She says police told her they couldn't remove the man inside because he showed them a lease.
But when Klaas learned about the new squatter law that went into effect this year, she thought she would finally get her house back.
"It said that if you have a squatter and you can prove this is your home, the police would be able to come and get them out. The police I've been working with also understood it to be that way also. So, we waited," Klaas said. "And then the Legalese got involved, and said they could not accept the responsibility and liability. So they could not actually help me."
She says the man inside has since taunted her, saying he, his family and their dog are never leaving.
"He tells me that I can't get him out. He sent me your article," Klaas said. "When I come to the home, he'll say, 'hey Sheri, you can't get me out of here.' I called you because the people on this block love you and have heard of you and they thought you could help me."
State Rep. La Shawn Ford came by to see if the man inside would come out to speak with him.
But no one came out.
"We as lawmakers will do everything we can to make adjustments as we see. There is no way when writing the law where we could see all the other possible ways that a trespasser can skirt the law. That's why we go back to Springfield to try to make changes to the current laws," Ford said.
Alderman Ronnie Mosely, who represents the 21st Ward, wants Chicago police to act.
"I'm going to work with CPD. They want to enforce the law. I believe they need clarity. I'm going to work and make sure they get that," Mosely said.
In a statement to the I-Team, Chicago police said they do not carry out evictions.
But Klaas says this isn't an eviction because these are not tenants.
"I don't know this person," she said.
CPD also says their officer made contact with the person inside, who claimed he had a valid lease for the property.
"I'm frustrated with CPD. Not the people who have been helping me, there have been a lot of boots on the ground people, but whoever the people who are in charge, yes, furious," Klaas said.
The homeowner says she'll continue to sit outside and get more creative, hoping that the people inside will leave soon.
The alleged squatter declined to comment.