Take Back the Land

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Take Back the Land is an American organization based in Miami, Florida, devoted to blocking evictions,[1] and rehousing homeless people in foreclosed houses.[2][3] Take Back the Land was formed in October 2006 to build the Umoja Village shantytown on a plot of unoccupied land[4] to protest gentrification and a lack of low-income housing in Miami. The group began opening houses in October 2007[5] and moved six homeless families into vacant homes in 2008.[2] By April 2009, the group had moved 20 families into foreclosed houses.[6] As of November 2008, the group had ten volunteers.[7] Take Back the Land volunteers break into the houses, clean, paint, and make repairs, change the locks, and help move the homeless families in. They provide supplies and furniture and help residents turn on electricity and water. Though the occupations are of contested legality, as of December 2008 local police officers were not intervening, judging it to be the responsibility of house owners to protect their property or request assistance.[3]

  1. ^ Jones, Van (April 1, 2011). "VIDEO: 'This Is Not America': SWAT Team Evicts Grandmother, Community Fights Back". michaelmoore.com. Archived from the original on April 4, 2011. Retrieved April 2, 2011.
  2. ^ a b Jervis, Rick (December 10, 2008). "Homeless turn foreclosures into shelters". USA Today. Archived from the original on December 14, 2008. Retrieved January 4, 2008.
  3. ^ a b Lush, Tamara (December 21, 2008). "Homeless advocates 'liberate' foreclosed houses". SFGate. San Francisco Chronicle. Associated Press. Archived from the original on December 22, 2008. Retrieved January 4, 2008.
  4. ^ Martin L. Johnson (March 25, 2009). "The City From Below". Baltimore City Paper. Archived from the original on April 16, 2009. Retrieved April 2, 2009.
  5. ^ Amy Goodman and Juan Gonzalez (December 19, 2008). "Take Back the Land: Miami Grassroots Group Moves Struggling Families into Vacant Homes". Democracy Now!. Archived from the original on March 27, 2009. Retrieved April 2, 2009.
  6. ^ "Home sweet home? Squatters nab foreclosures". Good Morning America. April 11, 2009.
  7. ^ Natalie O'Neill (November 19, 2008). "Squatters". Miami New Times. Archived from the original on April 20, 2009. Retrieved April 2, 2009.