Squatters take over Georgia home while owner cares for sick wife, now they’re protected by law

WSB-TV reported on Sunday reported that Paul Callins had been caring for his sick wife when the squatters took over and switched out the locks on the house.

“Basically, these people came in Friday, broke into my house and had a U-Haul move all their stuff in. It’s frustrating. It’s very frustrating. I can’t even sleep,” Callins told WSB-TV. “I guess they have done this before, because when I called the police, they said since they have a fake lease, that they can’t do anything. That it’s a civil matter."

Since it is a civil law case, Callins must go through the court system in Georgia which can take up to "60 to 90 days."

Callin's story has become common in Georgia. In DeKalb County, where he resides, about 1,200 homes are occupied by squatters, according to the National Rental Home Council trade group. Lawmakers in Georgia are working to make squatting a criminal offense, but the process takes time to go through the proper channels. It would be ruled a felony, which would allow local police to step in and take squatters into custody, per Fox News.

“These are people that know exactly what they’re doing, and they’re stealing other people’s most valuable capital, which is their home,” Rep. Devan Seabaugh, who is co-sponsoring the bill to deal with the situation, told the outlet. "I've heard from a lot of people. This has caused them to file bankruptcy. They're mentally harmed by it. It's a tough situation, and we have to do something. I don't know how it took us this long to get here … but no more free rides."

The bill proposed in the state legislature has gathered bipartisan support even though it has been supported mainly by Republicans.