East New York family still locked out after alleged squatter stays put
Steven Colon said he let Kaila Ortiz stay for two weeks. She never left. Since then, he’s been paying rent while he and his family are living on the street, and Ortiz remains in the apartment without a lease.
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Steven Colon says he just wanted to help someone in need. Now, eight months later, he and his family are still locked out of their East New York apartment.
Colon said he let Kaila Ortiz stay for two weeks. She never left. Since then, he’s been paying rent while he and his family are living on the street, and Ortiz remains in the apartment without a lease.
“I had a soft heart. I felt like I needed to help somebody, and she just totally ran me over,” Colon said.
Colon and his landlord, Bailey Lockhardt, were hoping a court hearing on June 25 would finally lead to an eviction. Instead, the case was delayed until Aug. 14 extending the nightmare for Colon and his family.
He feels the courts are failing families like his.
“It’s like they’re giving her all the opportunity in the world to do whatever she wants in my house, and I can’t do anything,” Colon said.
The delay has taken a toll. Colon says he’s exhausted and frustrated. Lockhardt says the financial hit has been steep.
“Another three months on the street, it’s killing us,” Colon said.
“It’s thousands of dollars,” Lockhardt added. "They extended her illegal lease because while she is fighting this she gets to stay, and I'm paying big money and my tenant is not able to get back."
Colon says this isn’t just about money or a place to sleep. It’s about everything he’s lost.
“I work hard for my money, and I’m losing a lot for her to be in there, not have a lease, and not deserve it. The courts need to hurry up and get her out,” he said. “I was supposed to work hard, go home, and sleep, our health is not good.”
He says the experience has changed how he sees people
"There are options out there for people, don’t take nobody in,” he said.
Ortiz previously told News 12 she would stay until she was legally forced out. On Tuesday, her door remained closed.
