The International Squaters Symbol
Homelessness is a very real problem in Akron.
If you have a better way of solving it I'm all ears.
But I have an idea:
What if prequalified homeless were given the opportunity to move into an abandon house or building?
This has been done before in America.
Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (or ACORN) was one of the first organizations in the U.S. to launch a national squatting campaign to challenge and transform federal and local housing policies to provide for more affordable housing.
In 1988, Operation Homestead in Seattle began occupying buildings and negotiating their sale to nonprofit low-income housing organizations. By 1993, it had successfully reclaimed 300 units.
Take Back the Land is a Miami-based, self-proclaimed "housing liberation" group that formed in 2006. They break into vacant, unused bank-owned foreclosed homes and move homeless people inside.
Homes Not Jails advocates squatting houses to end the problem of homelessness. It has opened "about 500 houses
Akron can become one of the most forward thinking cities in America if we want it.
Paid For By The People for Sage Lewis