Activist moves homeless into foreclosures

[SlowDownFast]

Activist moves homeless into foreclosures

Man executes bailout plan of his own on Miami's empty streets

MIAMI - Max Rameau delivers his sales pitch like a pro. "All tile floor!" he says during a recent showing. "And the living room, wow! It has great blinds."

But in nearly every other respect, he is unlike any real estate agent you've ever met. He is unshaven, drives a beat-up car and wears grungy cut-off sweat pants. He also breaks into the homes he shows. And his clients don't have a dime for a down payment.

Rameau is an activist who has been executing a bailout plan of his own around Miami's empty streets: He is helping homeless people illegally move into foreclosed homes.

"We're matching homeless people with people-less homes," he said with a grin.

Rameau and a group of like-minded advocates formed Take Back the Land, which also helps the new "tenants" with secondhand furniture, cleaning supplies and yard upkeep. So far, he has moved six families into foreclosed homes and has nine on a waiting list.

more:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28002276/

[flvegan]

1. Good intention, bad idea.

[lurky]

2. Given a choice between squatters and abandoned houses...

I think I'd prefer having squatters. Abandoned houses are a magnet for junkies, hookers, dope dealers, etc... With squatters, you at least have someone looking after the place.

[Warpy]

6. A worse problem is looting the house out

stealing appliances, plumbing fixtures, and even the copper pipes and wires out of the walls.

Squatters are better.

[mrreowwr_kittty]

3. Doesn't (or didn't) Florida have some kind of homesteading law?

I seem to remember it was the plot of an Elvis movie. :shrug:

[Demobrat]

4. I wondered when this would start happening.

Especially in neighborhoods with lots of foreclosures.

[izquierdista]

5. Comrade Zhivago

There is enough room for 13 families in this house...

[MacGowanIsGod]

7. U.S. HOMELESS - THIS IS NOT AMERICA

A great YouTube production that really pulls at the heart strings: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_BbonURJ-E

[SlowDownFast]

8. Excellent video link, MacGowanIsGod!

Welcome to DU!

:hi:

[Joanne98]

9. OMG! My hero!