The family of 76-year-old William Towns is struggling to evict squatters who have allegedly taken control of his Colorado Springs home. Towns, who suffers from dementia, met a homeless woman while walking his dog and allowed her to help with household chores. However, the situation quickly spiraled out of control when the woman moved her son, boyfriend, and belongings into the home, according to Towns’ daughters.
The family claims the squatters have turned the home into a dangerous environment, setting up a mushroom-growing operation and engaging in underage drug use. Towns, who has lived in the home with his wife for 50 years, now feels unsafe and uncomfortable in his own house.
Repeated calls to the police have not resolved the issue. Local authorities told the family that, since the squatters were invited into the home, it is not considered trespassing. The family now faces the costly and time-consuming process of a formal eviction.
The legal expenses are overwhelming for the Towns family, who live on a fixed income. To cover the costs of an attorney and the eviction process, the family has launched a GoFundMe campaign. “We are desperate to help our dad feel safe in his own home again,” the daughters wrote.
Although the process could take months, the Towns family remains hopeful that they will eventually regain control of the home and provide their father with the security he deserves.
