Homeless Shelters?: ; Foreclosures a Tempting Invitation for Squatters From Streets

Summary

---

CLEVELAND - The nation's foreclosure crisis has led to a painful irony for homeless people: On any given night they are outnumbered in some cities by vacant houses. Some street people are taking advantage of the opportunity by becoming squatters.

Foreclosed homes often have an advantage over boarded-up and dilapidated houses abandoned because of rundown conditions: Sometimes the heat, lights and water are still working.

See the full content of this document

Extract

---

Homeless Shelters?: ; Foreclosures a Tempting Invitation for Squatters From Streets

"That's what you call convenient," said James Bertan, 41, an ex- convict and self-described "bando," or someone who lives in abandoned houses.

While no one keeps numbers of below-the-radar homeless people finding shelter in properties left vacant by foreclosure, advocates for the ho...

See the full content of this document

---