A group of activists in Miami formed an advocate group called Take Back the Land. Unlike other advocates group, members are intentionally breaking into foreclosed homes and illegally moving homeless people into these abandoned houses. The group also helps these families settle in by providing secondhand furniture, materials for cleaning the house, and would help clean the yards of these sequestered foreclosed properties.
With the continuous collapse of the real estate market, an increasing number of people are losing their homes due to foreclosures. Florida is one of the hardest hit states in this crisis and registered as the second highest foreclosure rate in the country next only to Nevada. Florida has one out of every 178 homes boarded-up due to foreclosures, and Miami is one of the most affected areas.
With this trend, squatting has become a normal occurrence in several neighborhoods that were severely affected by foreclosures. However, it is unusual to have an organized effort in this area as the one perpetrated by Take Back the Land and its advocates.
The city council of Miami is also taking steps to address this growing issue of foreclosures. Foreclosure-prevention programs have been put in place to help delinquent homeowners deal with their loan problems, averaging at $7,500 overdue payments per family. An ordinance was also promulgated that requires the registration of abandoned homes with the city. Owners should take this responsibility to provide police with a monitoring system for these properties.
Advocates of Take Back the Land believes they are doing the owners of these home a favor by populating these abandoned homes. Vacant homes have been targets for thieves and other criminal elements and have become havens for drug trafficking and prostitution. Miami city official’s are aware of these activities but are not taking any measures, leaving the owners of these properties to take action on their own.
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