Tenants at a Park Forest, Illinois, apartment complex say they are living without working air conditioning during one of the hottest stretches of the summer.
Residents at Autumn Ridge Apartments & Townhomes told FOX 32 Chicago that the cooling problem has returned as dangerous heat grips the Chicago area.
The National Weather Service in Chicago warned that heat index values in the region could reach dangerous levels, with the worst heat creating serious risk for people without reliable cooling.
When air conditioning fails during extreme heat, renters with pets, children, older adults, medical conditions, or no other place to go can face more than an uncomfortable apartment.
Residents Say Cooling Problems Have Returned
Robert Boyd, who has lived at the complex since 2023, told FOX 32 he worries about himself and his two dogs.
Boyd said he comes home during lunch breaks to check on the animals because his apartment is hot.
He also said he has not had working sinks for months, making it harder to keep water available. Another resident, Jusena Spencer-Wiggs, described plumbing problems, flooding, mold, unlocked doors, and squatters.
The Complex Has Faced Trouble Before
FOX 32 reported that tenants spent much of June 2025 without working air conditioning, and the Village of Park Forest later issued four $750 citations against the property’s owners.
In January 2026, residents contacted the station again after parts of the complex lost heat during winter.
One building was condemned because it did not have heat, forcing people in 17 apartments to relocate.
The Village Says Temporary Relief Is Being Added
A Park Forest spokesperson told FOX 32 that the community center is open as a cooling center for Autumn Ridge residents.
The village also said temporary chillers were being installed, hotel rooms had been offered to residents who choose to use them, and HVAC contractors were on-site.
The courtroom inside the Park Forest Police Department at 200 Lakewood Blvd. is available as a 24-hour cooling center. Village Hall at 350 Victory Drive is open as a cooling center during regular business hours.
Renters Should Keep a Written Record
The Illinois Attorney General’s Office says landlords must keep rental units fit to live in, make necessary repairs, and comply with state and local health and housing codes.
Renters dealing with dangerous indoor heat should save written repair requests, photos of thermostats, messages from management, cooling-center notices, hotel offers, medical or pet-safety concerns, and code-enforcement complaint numbers.
Anyone experiencing heat illness, or seeing a child, older adult, pet, or medically vulnerable person in distress, should call 911 immediately.