Man EVICTED for Calling 911 Too Much?!

A Vermont man who called police for help dozens of times is now suing the city after being evicted under “crime-free” housing laws—raising national alarm over victim rights and housing policy.

At a Glance

Joe Montagno sued Burlington after being evicted due to frequent police calls.

The ACLU argues that eviction for police contact is a national concern.

Catherine Lang was evicted despite being acquitted of charges.

Crime-free housing policies focus on neighborhood safety, at the risk of unfair evictions.

When Asking for Help Gets You Kicked Out

Joe Montagno never expected that calling the police to report crimes around his Burlington apartment would cost him his home. But after placing over 40 calls in one year, he was evicted—labeled a “public nuisance” under the city’s crime-free housing rules.

Now, Montagno is fighting back with help from the ACLU of Vermont. His case, filed against the city, argues that such policies punish those seeking protection and create a chilling effect on victims—particularly women and domestic violence survivors, who statistically make up a large portion of the vulnerable population.

“This is a national problem,” said Jay Diaz, Montagno’s attorney. “These ordinances make people choose between their safety and their homes.”

Broken Safety Net or Broken System?

Montagno’s case isn’t isolated. From 2019 to 2024, more than 2,000 tenants in Illinois faced eviction for contacting law enforcement—many without ever being convicted of a crime. Among them was Catherine Lang, who was evicted despite later being acquitted. These laws, meant to protect neighborhoods, are now drawing fire for sweeping in innocent residents and placing blame on victims.

David Greenberg, a landlord advocate, points to an uncomfortable reality: “My clients are not social workers, psychiatrists, or anything else,” he said. “Nor can we station an armed guard in the building at all times.”
Landlords say they are trapped between policy demands and the growing complexity of tenant needs.

Meanwhile, renters like Montagno and Lang are left vulnerable—sometimes punished just for being present when trouble arises.

Rethinking “Crime-Free” Housing

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has been urged by senators to investigate how such ordinances impact civil rights, especially among low-income and minority renters. Nine in ten homeless women have experienced severe abuse—making these housing policies not only punitive but potentially dangerous.

Activists argue that while safety should remain paramount, the blunt application of these laws often misses the mark. Calls to revise or repeal “crime-free” ordinances are gaining traction in statehouses and courtrooms alike.

As Joe Montagno’s lawsuit proceeds, his case may set a national precedent. Should victims be silenced or punished for seeking help? Or should cities find smarter, more humane ways to balance public safety with the right to remain housed?

Until the courts weigh in, Montagno’s story will continue to spotlight one of the most painful paradoxes in modern housing policy: that safety and shelter, for too many, are treated as mutually exclusive.