Foreclosed homes give shelter to homeless

[one...two...tree 2,762]

By Tamara Lush, AP

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.

"I think everyone deserves a home," said Rameau, who said he takes no money from his work with the homeless. "Homeless people across the country are squatting in empty homes. The question is: Is this going to be done out of desperation or with direction?"

With the housing market collapsing, squatting in foreclosed homes is believed to be on the rise around the country. But squatters usually move in on their own, at night, when no one is watching. Rarely is the phenomenon as organized as Rameau's effort to "liberate" foreclosed homes.

Florida, especially the Miami area, with its once-booming condo market, is one of the hardest-hit states in the housing crisis, largely because of overbuilding and speculation. In September, Florida had the nation's second-highest foreclosure rate, with one out of every 178 homes in default, according to Realty Trac, an online marketer of foreclosed properties. Only Nevada's rate was higher.

Like other cities, Miami is trying to ease the problem. Officials launched a foreclosure-prevention program to help homeowners who have fallen behind on their mortgage, with loans of up to $7,500 per household.

The city also recently passed an ordinance requiring owners of abandoned homes - whether an individual or bank - to register those properties with the city so police can better monitor them.

Miami spokeswoman Kelly Penton said city officials did not know Rameau was moving homeless into empty buildings, but they are not stopping him.

"There are no actions on the city's part to stop this," she said in an e-mail. "It is important to note that if people trespass into private property, it is up to the property owner to take action to remove those individuals."

In early November, Rameau drove a woman and her 18-month old daughter to a ranch home on a quiet street lined with swaying tropical foliage. Marie Nadine Pierre, 39, has been sleeping at a shelter with her toddler. She said she had been homeless off and on for a year, after losing various jobs and getting evicted from several apartments.

"In my own home, I'm free," Pierre said. "I'm a human being now."

http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/200...ealtor1203.html

[Ban Hammer 13,364]

hope this guy enjoys his time in jail for b&e

[Mononoke28 135]

"In my own home, I'm free," Pierre said. "I'm a human being now."

Well, what kind of human would you be staying in a place that is not yours to call home in the first place?

I would be beyond pissssssed if I had lost my home because of the economy and found out there was some homeless person living in it. That is enough to make you go postal.

Diana

[Sister Fracas 5]

hmmm... I don't wish him harm (or jail time), but I think I'd have more empathy for a homeless person trying to find shelter in a cold harsh winter.

[Mononoke28 135]

hmmm... I don't wish him harm (or jail time), but I think I'd have more empathy for a homeless person trying to find shelter in a cold harsh winter.

How would you feel if they were doing it in the home you lost because you couldn't pay for it and couldn't stay in it because of that?

Diana

[doodlebugg 10]

"In my own home, I'm free," Pierre said. "I'm a human being now."

Well, what kind of human would you be staying in a place that is not yours to call home in the first place?

I would be beyond pissssssed if I had lost my home because of the economy and found out there was some homeless person living in it. That is enough to make you go postal.

Diana

I'd be pissed too!!!! Is this really better for the banks that foreclose on these homes? For homeless people to be squatting in the homes? Do they think they'll get a good price for those homes after these people have been in there for months on end??? I would think it would behoove the banks instead to work out some sort of deal with the mortgagee but then maybe that makes too much sense.

[Ban Hammer 13,364]

hmmm... I don't wish him harm (or jail time), but I think I'd have more empathy for a homeless person trying to find shelter in a cold harsh winter.

How would you feel if they were doing it in the home you lost because you couldn't pay for it and couldn't stay in it because of that?

Diana

and you might have a difficult time proving you didn't cause any damage that the homeless person did.

[Mononoke28 135]

And you know they're leaving poop and garbage all over the place because where else would it go but sit on the living room's cozy fireplace. Augh!

Diana

[Sister Fracas 5]

hmmm... I don't wish him harm (or jail time), but I think I'd have more empathy for a homeless person trying to find shelter in a cold harsh winter.

How would you feel if they were doing it in the home you lost because you couldn't pay for it and couldn't stay in it because of that?

Diana

I didn't say all homeless people should move into foreclosed homes, but it's hard to see homeless people out freezing on the streets everyday in winter. That's all I'm saying. I wish there were more shelters that could accomodate them, but many shelters are at maximum capacity now.

It's so easy to dehumanize them though...

[doodlebugg 10]

hmmm... I don't wish him harm (or jail time), but I think I'd have more empathy for a homeless person trying to find shelter in a cold harsh winter.

How would you feel if they were doing it in the home you lost because you couldn't pay for it and couldn't stay in it because of that?

Diana

I didn't say all homeless people should move into foreclosed homes, but it's hard to see homeless people out freezing on the streets everyday in winter. That's all I'm saying. I wish there were more shelters that could accomodate them, but many shelters are at maximum capacity now.

It's so easy to dehumanize them though...

I agree but instead of just breaking and entering into all the homes that the banks can't sell, thereby doing so much damage to these homes and as a result the neighborhoods, why not have the banks simply donate one out of every 10 or so and have this thing legalized and have people sign up for housing? Of course the town/city would have to have the proper votes in place to allow whatever you'd call it...section 8 housing? ... in their neighborhood but at least they'd know the damage would be contained because it would be a bit more orderly.

[Sister Fracas 5]

hmmm... I don't wish him harm (or jail time), but I think I'd have more empathy for a homeless person trying to find shelter in a cold harsh winter.

How would you feel if they were doing it in the home you lost because you couldn't pay for it and couldn't stay in it because of that?

Diana

I didn't say all homeless people should move into foreclosed homes, but it's hard to see homeless people out freezing on the streets everyday in winter. That's all I'm saying. I wish there were more shelters that could accomodate them, but many shelters are at maximum capacity now.

It's so easy to dehumanize them though...

I agree but instead of just breaking and entering into all the homes that the banks can't sell, thereby doing so much damage to these homes and as a result the neighborhoods, why not have the banks simply donate one out of every 10 or so and have this thing legalized and have people sign up for housing? Of course the town/city would have to have the proper votes in place to allow whatever you'd call it...section 8 housing? ... in their neighborhood but at least they'd know the damage would be contained because it would be a bit more orderly.

It would never fly... people don't want homeless people in their neighborhoods. They want them out of sight "somewhere".