Foreclosed Vacant Houses Become Homes to the Homeless
With the situation slipping from bad to worse the people are taking the matter into their own hands. More foreclosed vacant houses are becoming homes to the homeless. The movement is often headed by organized groups.
Women in Transition in Louisville is one such group. They hunt out properties that can be occupied after being frustrated in their efforts to find affordable housing. The over supply of empty houses are the perfect answer to their problems.
Metro Atlanta Task Force for the homeless is represented by Anita Beaty. Her group has been asking the banks to hand over buildings that have been abandoned so they can refurbish it and have them occupied without breaking the law.
Cheri Honkal leading Poor People’s Economic Human Rights Campaign in Minnesota was herself once a squatter. She recalls that previously neighbours used to raise a hue and cry about breaking the law but that attitude has now changed. Now the neighbours come forward to help with bedding and food.
Ben Burton of Miami Coalition for the Homeless said till recently squatting was an unknown thing in the city.
Max Rameau of Take Back the Land said competitions are surfacing between organized and non-organized squatters. There are squatters taking over their squat. Rameau said that his group openly operated sifting out the sand from the sugar – the insane, drug addicts and the like. The people moving in would have to sweat it out by doing the repairs and paying utility fees. They replace the locks when they drive in through the front gate. The families are given the key. Most of these happen in poor localities where the neighbours are not likely to protest.
Kelly Penton the Director of Communications said that the police needed a signed affidavit from the owner of the property, usually a bank, before they can evict squatters. If this happens the group starts looking once more for another house to shift the floating population.
Rameau and his peers hunt through foreclosure listings to find the suitable properties. Then they inspect the damages. Often they find that even locks are not in place. Inside all the fittings have been stripped off and the floors full of ashes – remnants of a fire made with a discarded telephone book to fight a cold wintry night. So far Ramneau has shifted ten families. Per moving in the cost is $200.
