Miami’s Homeless Inhabit Vacant Homes

I heard this story on American Public Radio’s Marketplace last night.  This story is of particular interest to me because of my current and my former careers.  Prior to becoming a real estate agent, I spent 16 years working for non-profit homeless centers and non-profit real estate developers.   In Miami, an organization calling itself  Take Back The Land assists homeless families to “squat” in vacant foreclosed homes.  The most interesting part of the story was that no one has bothered the squatters.  Not the police, not the bank owners.  No one.  Read the story here, or listen here.  For even more, check out The Party for Socialism and Liberation’s website and The Take Back The Land website.

This situation is a complex one, and while I may not agree with all of the tactics employed by these groups, I do feel for the people they assist.  It will be interesting to see how this situation plays out in the future.