For months the residents of Brussel Drive in New Hyde Park have been living with suspected squatters who they say have created an unsafe environment that has put the neighborhood on edge. Now they’re trying to kick them out.

“We lose sleep over this because now we’re so nervous, we’re so scared, especially for our kids,” neighbor Jerry Jacob said after several run-ins between the unwanted newcomers and residents.

He is leading dozens of fellow New Hyde Park residents who are banding together to oust their unwanted neighbors, alleging that their occupancy is illegal and they should be removed immediately.

Jacob said two individuals, a 19-year-old woman and a 29-year-old man, moved into a foreclosed and abandoned house on their street with their baby and dog in August 2023.

The previous owners of the home died nearly 10 years ago, Jacob said. With the death of their sole heirs and nobody to take over the home, it fell into foreclosure and became abandoned.

Prior to the couple’s moving into the foreclosed home, Jacob said it had been empty for for five years and that it was “falling apart.”

Jacob said police were alerted to the living conditions at the foreclosed home occupied by the family and investigated the home in October. This is when they discovered the home had no electricity, hot water or plumbing, Jacob said, which led to the arrest of the two individuals.

Both of the suspected squatters were arrested on charges of endangering the welfare of a child. Both pleaded not guilty to the charges.

In addition to the child endangerment charges, the man was charged with second-degree obstructing governmental administration and resisting arrest.

In October, the Town of North Hempstead Building Department determined the home had failed its inspection and was unlivable without working bathrooms.

“So then the story kind of moves forward that we felt we would never see them again,” Jacob said.

But after being arrested and removed from the unlivable home in October, the two individuals challenged the action in court, contending they were evicted without notice or reason. They provided a signed lease to show they were tenants of the property.

They were then granted residency as tenants of the home in December.

“We were shocked when they showed up,” Jacob said.

Since January the alleged squatters have been back and the neighborhood’s pushback on their presence has strengthened tensions and left residents feeling fearful.

Jacob is not convinced that the lease is valid, alleging it was signed by one of the prior homeowners seven years after his death.

A group of 65 neighbors is now bringing the case to court to challenge the granting of occupancy to the suspected squatters, arguing that the lease is not valid and therefore they must be removed.

After the couple was served on Feb. 8, Jacob said the neighborhood was on edge.

He said the man occupying the home has exhibited violent behavior toward the neighbors, calling one of them a slur and threatening him at his home after finding out about the neighborhood petition to remove them.

“We are scared to death right now,” Jacob said the day the couple was served, “because as soon as they see this summons we don’t know how they’re going to react.”

Jacob said the problem with the alleged squatters began with their dog, which would repeatedly escape and chase after people in the neighborhood. He called it an aggressive dog that would lunge at people even when leashed.

But on the night of Jan. 24 tensions peaked.

Jacob said the alleged squatters were banging on neighbors’ doors, raising their middle fingers at them, approaching neighbors in their vehicles and pacing the block with their “vicious” dog in what Jacob called an attempt at intimidation.

The neighbors demanded the help of the Town of North Hempstead in removing the supposed squatters, but it was to no avail.

About 50 New Hyde Park residents attended a Town of North Hempstead meeting on Feb. 6 to express their grievances with the alleged squatters in their neighborhood.

The neighbors who spoke said the town had failed them in their pursuit to address this issue, including resident Erica Loomba. She said they received no help or communication from board members despite reaching out to them directly – excluding Councilmember Christine Liu, who met with residents.

But without any response from the town despite reporting the issue, Jacob said they took matters into their own hands and banded together to challenge the couple’s now legal occupancy by taking them to court.

“We just felt like the town is not doing anything so we’re going to do it ourselves,” Jacob said.

Town Councilmember Dennis Walsh said the hearing in Nassau County District Court Thursday will be the beginning of the resolution. He said the town will then respond appropriately after a court decision is issued.

“I understand that we have an upcoming court date and a resolve is about to start, but that is because of our action, not yours,” Loomba said at the town meeting. “And what we’re asking is for your support in our action that is appearing before the court as well as in any way you feel it might be helpful to us.”

Jacob said he and his neighbors hope the court hearing vacates the prior order granting them occupancy, effectively kicking them out of their neighborhood.