9 children hospitalized after being found living in squalor in Englewood

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Nine children have been hospitalized after being found living in squalor in the Englewood neighborhood Sunday afternoon, the Chicago Fire Department said.

The children, ranging in age from 3 months to 17 years, were found in a home in the 900-block of West 59th Street, the fire department said. They were transported to University of Chicago Comer Children's Hospital for observation.

Fire officials said the house had no heat, no food, and no refrigerator, but neighbors said they never noticed anything was wrong.

"We were totally unaware and it is a shock to us," said neighbor Willie Shears. "We would have helped them in any way that we could have helped them."

Many of the homes in the neighborhood are boarded up.

The mothers of the children were taken into custody Sunday. No charges have been announced.

The Department of Children and Family Services said they are investigating the case and all of the children have been placed with family members.