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Squatrers Handpook

"POLITICAL" SQUATTING TIPS

Conten!

2. Homes Not Jails

1. Squatters Handbook

13. Squatting Tips

For more info get to www.squat.net
Libraries have computers you can use to
search the intemet, librarians are very
helpful, and it’s free..

Homes Not Jails

Homes Not Jails is an autonomous group of individuals whose
mission is (o end homelessness and to abolish the prison industrial
complex

“The first HNJ chapter started in San Frapeisco to advocate for the
use of abandoned, vacant housing for people experiencing
homelessness.

Homes Not Jails holds that housing is a human right that far
outweighs developers', landlords’, and real estate speculators’
"rights” to profit. HNJ takes abandoned buildings both publicly
and covertly to address the growing crisis of homelessness.

Recognizing that our government would be reluctant to utilize
vacant buildings for people who need housing- and recognizing
that people need housing now- HNJ also seeks to support covert
squatting in abandoned buildings.

HNJ employs a variety of tactics to bring light to the connection
between the growing prison industrial complex and increasing
poverty and homelessness.

In many cities, gentrifcation is pushing low and no-income people
out of their communities. Lower-income areas of citics are allowed
to decay for years through redlining and city neglect, creating
thousands of abandoned wnits of housing, and then are gradually
redeveloped for middle and upper-income people.

Government policies actually encourage wealthy real estate
speculators to sit on cmpty buildings waiting for property values to
tise, while people sleep on the streets. US Housing and Urban
Development, which auctions off thousands of vacant buildings at
market-rate, actually spends millions maintaining a stock of vacant
buildings; even heating them in the winter to prevent pipes from

freezing,
2
Homes Not Jails believes that we can,-and we must confront the
policies that keep poor people homeless, starving, and struggling
while banks, developers, and landlords continue (0 profit. The time
for action is now. As many organizers have said before us: "You
only get what you're organized to take!"

Squatters Handbook
Intro

A group of people concerned with the everyday survival and basic

needs of people in our community have put this book together. The
group is called ‘Self Help Housing'. Through this booklet we hope
10 provide much needed realistic information to people that need it

We advocate occupant controlled housing
We believe that everyone has a right to a home

We sce the present system of housing as creating homelessness
and high rents because it is based on profit and property NOT

people

Allland in Canada i stolen land from the Aboriginal people

We believe that governments in alltheir forms hinder a real
solution to the problem of housing the worlds people

We aim o create an atmosphere where people have cqual
decision making powers. We make decisions by consensus

Why squat?

Housing is a basic right for everybody. Houses should not be
cmpty while there are people without homes to live in. People are
living without electricity, hot water and food in order to pay huge
rents that 'the market' demands, much to the delight of
unscrupulous property owners and estate agents.
Tenancy with a signed lease doesn't actually provide much more
security than squatting, though gives a legal recognition to the
occupant. Tenancy laws generally though are there to protect the
property owners, NOT the tenants, necessarily. Landowners
arbitrarily raise rents and many a tenant knows the possibility of
maintenance and repairs from most landowners and estate agents.
Real Estate agents discriminate against single parents, young, old,
low-income earners and anyone who isn't pretty well capable of
actually buying a house,

Chances of finding acceptable and affordable housing on the
private market is nearly impossible, the waiting st on public
housing lists are years long and government support for public
housing is virtually nothing. People already occupy run down
dilapidated houses due to having nowhere clse to go.

Squatters have very litle legal recognition and the only way
squatters can generally keep their houses is to help each other and
be organized and seck support. Such support is essential to
organize repairs and to resist harassment and evictions by
landowners immediately. It s important not to be intimidated or
bluffed into leaving your home before you have fought to stay
there.

Who owns empties

Government departments own empty houses, duc to

management and bureaucratic delays many houses can remain
empty for many years. Private developers keep houses emply so
that they can make a fast buck, or maintain the ‘market rent' by
limiting the available housing. Greedy individuals own houses that
are left empty because they don't need them to live in
Government houses

Properties owned by public authorities (such as the RTA, DOH,
Education Dept, SRA etc - yes many of these different public
bodies own quite a lot of property in various locations and may
include livable houses that are left unoccupied for years) will gene
rally require some level of negotiation, unless in the rare case they
have been completely forgotten about. The fime to negotiate may
vary, but when you are discovered and requested to leave then an
approach to a level of the administration responsible for properties
can not do any harm, question the representative about who is
responsible for making decisions about the property and approach
then directly if necessary, by phone o in person with a friend or
two.

Privately owned houses

Privately owned houses may be left empty for a number of reasons.
A deceased estate may have no living relatives or interested
parties, or they may be willing to allow you to 'look after’ the
house. Deceased estates where there are no living relatives are
administered by the Public Trustees office, and it may take many
years for the fate of the property to be setiled,

Generally private owners will ask you personally to leave or call
the police and get them to remove you if necessary. Quite often the
case i that no charges will be laid if there is resistance or
antagonism,

Quite often the first contact with anyone will be the neighbors,
who will eventually have to contend with anyway, ifs worthwhile
to present yourself as honestly and openly as possible.

How do I do it?
Finding empty houses is generally prity easy, an unkempt look,
‘mail oozing out of the mailbox, overgrown garden, power off
(check the electricity meter (o see if the powers on), broken
windows and doors etc. You should always knock on the door
before entering or when checking out a house. Sometimes old
people are living in their home without electricity in rundown
states.

Take a closer look inside and out, i there thick dust inside? no
obvious signs of occupation? check how many rooms the house
has, are any floorboards missing? check the overall structure of the
place; are the gas and electricity meters sill there? You nced to
know what to bring back to secure the house and fix it up if
necessary.

It is important to find out who owns the property so you are aware
of the owners s the neighbors are and so you'll know who you can
speak to, to negotiate if necessary. Only the owner or the agent of
the owner (which can, but isn't necessarily the police) can legally
evict you or ask you to leave, not the neighbors or the police
without direction from the owner. The police may take it upon
themselves to act against people they know to be occupying
property without the owners” permission, this may be illegal, but
by then you're generally out of the house and looking for
somewhere else.

Find out as much as you can about the house. The land titles office
is another way to find out who owns property. The system

there may scem mind-boggling but it provides information on
recent transactions and proposed development plans. T he staff
there are quite helpful and you can't be denied access o the
information, though maybe have to pay for more detailed
information.
Getting in is generally quite easy, often broken windows or doors
previously forced by other visitors provide access. Vandalism is
often an indication of vacant houses, the local kids maybe use the
place, this makes it easy to walk right in (besides being a great
argument for people living in houses rater than leaving them
empty). During the day on a weekday is actually the best time to
check out houses, less conspicuous and you can see more. It best
to just go for a look first without any tools or anything that might
justify a break and enter. As long as you don't damage any par t of
the property it's ok, if you do then leave and return at a later time if
ok. It's not always good to have tools such as crowbars lying
around as the police may try to charge someone for breaking and
entering.

It can sometimes take quite sometime for owners to realize that
anyone is occupying the house, anything from a few hours to a day
toa few weeks even. This time should be used for getting the
house together, fixing things up, checking the wiring and water efc.
It's a good idea to get services such as electricity and gas on as
quickly as possible, so you can cook and maintain a life at your
new home. Try to keep the house occupied constantly for the first
few days and weeks or until you come to some agreement over
remaining there with the owner. Get support from other

squatters, friends and others in the local area.

If after a few weeks you're still there and have heard nothing from
the owners you can start to get a bit more comfortable, it is harder
to evict well established households than people who appear to be
just using the place to crash in. First thing to do is change the locks
and secure the house. Most barrel locks are easily replaced with a
few tools (screwdriver, hacksaw, pliers etc) and are available from
hardware shops. Deadlocks may have o sawn off and replaced
totally, these cost more but are more secure. Doors or windows
that can't be immediately repaired can have wood or board nailed
on them to provide temporary security.
Services 3

Water, electricity and other essential services can not be denied to
you, though if itis known that you are squatting services may be
denied to you, this is against the law, you may however be required
to pay a security deposit.

Water and toilets

If the water is off at the taps find the main and turn it back on, after
checking the pipes. If water has been turned off from not paying
water rates then you can approach the water authority to pay of
some off o get the water back on. If the plumbing isn'tin tact,
hoses and clamps can be used for at least temporary plumbing,

If the toilet is broken a new one can be cemented in and a bucket
used if a cistern is unavailable. If the sewerage is blocked it may
need to be cleared, with an electric eel or something similar, take
care with old piping.

electricity and gas

If the wiring is ok, you have a legal right to have the electricity
connected, but may have to pay a security deposit. You may be
required to show proof that you are living at the house with a lease,
just say you're living there and that you have a right to services. It
isn't actually a necessarily good idea to tell them you're squatting.
If the wiring is damaged or broken get someone who knows what
they're doing to fix it... The same applies to gas services.

Eviction! and legalities

1
Essentially you have no rights as a squatter but if you are
threatened with eviction there are things you do to postpone
eviction or even negotiate a settlement that means you can stay.
Only the owner or the representative of the owner has the legal
tight to evict you, so don't be intimidated by the cops or neighbors
without checking. It's important to try and talk to the evictors;
evictions have been stopped at the last moment. Quite often you
will be told lies as to the history and future plans for the houses,
demolition, renovation etc, or at least the truth is bent in an effort
to get you to leave.

1f you are asked by the owner, or an agent of the owner (who may
be the police) to leave and you don't then you can be arrested for
trespass under the Enclosed Lands Act.

Things you can do to resist ey nclude:

Contact your local squatters group (or start your own) for
support.

Get friends and other squatters to come around when eviction is
due, people showing support can stall eviction,

Leaflet or doorknock the surrounding houses, try to get some
Tocal community support.

For public authorities visiting, and perhaps protesting outside
of, the offices of the organization can sometimes cause them to
back down from evictions.

Barricade yourself in. This can however be dangerous to your
health, as the cops arc generally more pissed-off when they get
i and arrest is much more likely, the police may take many
days o evict a heavily barricaded squat
Talk to the media about the situation; though be careful, as the
media may not portray you and theissue in a favorable light

Utilize alterative media, local papers notice boards etc.

If you resist or are violent or abusive you will most likely face
‘more severe charges (and larger fines) if the police have to remove
you. It s obviously best to talk with the police and any other
representatives of the owner outside the house, have someone:
outside to talk with the police if necessary. If you are arrested you
will be taken to the police station, your name and fingerprints will
be taken and you will probably be released quite quickly.

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"POLITICAL" SQUATTING TIPS (from Tom Boland)

The advice below is not a consensed document of Homes Not Jails.
T's my personal advice. I'm a Homes Not Jails supporter and a
pacifist anti-poverty activist who spent two years homeless.

The advice below is based mainly on the failures of a three-month
encampment for affordable housing in Boston in 1988, called
'HOMEFRONT '$3. The encampment, mainly outside Boston City
Hall, ended with a building takeover.

‘There were a number of arrests for our non-violent protest, and
much publicity. I think we'd have won much more if we'd followed
these guidelines:

1) BRING CAMCORDERS, TAPE RECORDERS, CAMERAS,
NOTEPADS AND PRESS PASSES

“This will help deter police harrassment and, if it occurs, provide
you with a record of t. It will also help you to document and
Celebrate any victories in gaining your aims.

If you are journalist, bring your press pass. It can help you get
access to sites and information that authorities are trying to keep
from the public cye. Its amazing how humanely officials can act
when they know that others are watching.

2) STAY IN CONSTANT TOUCH WITH SQUATTERS
‘WORLDWIDE

“This cross-fertlizes strageties and helps you decide what may work

ornot locally. It also builds morale, especially when authorities are
{rying to discredit you and threaten arrests to scare off supporters.

»
Nowadays, the Intemet is an exccllent link to other squatters in a
world where over a billion people are houseless--even in wealthy
nations. Homes Not Jails homepage is a good place to start your
scarch.

Fducate yourselves on the issues. Use the Intemet.

3) GIVE EVERY PARTICIPANT AN "EVICTION ALERT
PHONETREE"

“The list should include contact phone numbers for the news desks
of altenative and mainstream media— local TV, newspapers and
radio, plus wire services such as United Press and Reuters. Don't
forget college papers and radio stations,

Also include contact numbers for supporters to mobilize quickly if
arrests occur. Perhaps you can find progressive members of City
Council, clergy or othér "notables" to promise (0 be arrested if you
are "evicted" from the site.

But make sure they do not take over and co-opt your aims. (For
more on this, see point 6.)

4) REQUIRE NON-VIOLENT CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE
TRAINING OF ALL WHO MIGHT RISK ARREST

To help assure public support, you'll need to make sure there are
o threats, screaming or fights that officials or the media might use
1o deflect attention from the validity of your issues. Role-play all
possible outcomes. There are fine non-violence triners ncar
Boston, especially among the Quakers. You may wan (o contact
local Friends Meetings and the American Friends Service
Comnmittee.

4
5) CREATE 'LEGAL SUPPORT" ROLES FOR THOSE WHO
CHOOSE NOT TO BE ARRESTED

Never guilt-trip those who may not want to do civil disobedience.
Make sure they arc in a spot where they will not be arrested.

Help them choose legal support tasks. These include mectings,
transport, materials, cash, outreach, publicity and legal help-—to
name but a few.

6) MAKE YOUR SPOKESPEOPLE THOSE MOST AFFECTED-
-HOMELESS PEOPLE

Tthink it's a form of "domestic colonialism" when non-poor people
speak for the poor, even when "progressives" do it, When actions
show signs of success, politicians and services providers often try
to take control, take credit and take any resources you win (such as
housing and cash).

Homeless peoples' aims get lost n such shuffles--as well as the
materials to survive and thrive that homeless people deserve
Choose your llies carcfully, and let homeless people speak for
ourselves.

7) MAKE DEMANDS THAT LINK THE KEY ISSUES--FREE
SPEECH, HOMES FOR ALL, WAGE-RENT SLAVERY

Be realistic. Demand the impossible. What is "politically feasable”
today is far short of what people necd and deserve. Accept no
substitutes. You may get what you ask for--so ask for everything.

8) WIDELY PUBLICIZE AND ENFORCE A BAN ON ALL
ALCOHOL AND DRUGS ON SITE

1
People who are high or agitated at your actions will undercut your
credibility with the public who can help win your demands. If you
see someone with drugs or alcohol, ask them to take it off the site--
first time, every time. Fighting drunks will discredit your actions
quickly.

9) GET ADVICE AND SUPPORT FROM THE ACLU AND
AND OTHER CIVIL RIGHTS GROUPS

Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts, the state chapter of
American Civil Liberties Union, defended Homefront arrestees.
CLUM also has fought anti-panhandling laws in Cambridge. You
may want to seek their support if arrests occur.

Another group that comes to mind is National Law Center on
Homelessness and Poverty (which works closely with National
Coalition for the Homesless). The Law Center recently published a
report on police harrassment of homeless people, titled MEAN
SWEEPS. (Read about it on the NCH web site.)

10) HAVE SQUATTING SUPPLIES ON SITE AND NEARBY

If you manage to hold a building, authorities may try to starve you
out. So have water, blankets, food, soap and buckets for human
waste inside-before you publicly announce your site.

Also have cell phones inside, so that you can have contact with
supporters outside. Don't forget musical instruments to celebrate
your struggle-and to accompany you as you sing "We Shall Not
Be Moved" |
Hundreds of people participated in Boston's HOMEFRONT '88 yet
our gains were largely nullified by drinking and drugging on site
and by public quarrels (including fistfights) among would-be
"leaders".

16
Our cause was just--homes forall. But our reversion to "chain of
command” and our lack of "non-violent discipline’ helped
reinforce stereotypes about activists and homeless people. And
Homefront lost is committment to direct action, floundered for a
while, then died

Apply the lessons of our failure, and Boston Homes Not Jails may
be around to do good work for decades to come. You may want to
{ailor these guidelines for your specific needs. I hope these
suggestions help

Tom Boland
Homeless Organizers'S

upport Team

Because FOOD is a RIGHT not a privilege!
Because there is enough food for everyone to eat!
Because SCARCITY is a LIE!

Because a woman should not have to use her body to get a
meal,
or to have a place (o sleep!

Because when we are hungry or
homeless wehave the RIGHT to get

d by panning, busking or squatting!
Y is a form of VIOLENCE not n
natural!
Because capitalism makes food a source of profit
not a source of nutrition!
Because Food Grows on Trees.
Because we need COMMUNITY not CONTROL!
Because we need HOMES not JAILS!
Because we need..

what we
Because POVE!

FOOD NOT BOMBS

THE NEXT MOVE
IS YOURS @&

18
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o THIS TAMPHLET axD
DISERIUTE THEM AMo(d
YoUR, LY 4D
FRIENDS.

pay by donation
(the average pamehiet

costs 8o cents to produce)

free to those with no chal