alt.politics.economics

/articles/7010067288

Preciosa Dumlao - AHN News Writer

Cleveland (AHN) - The nation's growing collection of foreclosed
properties have advantages for some of America's most disadvantaged.
For homeless people vacant houses provide them with temporary shelter,
especially during the night.

Director of the Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless, Brian Davis
said many street people see the foreclosure on residential property as
an opportunity to get free housing with ample privacy.

Davis said the housing crisis, which has seen thousands of homes
across the nation foreclosed so far, provides an opportunity for the
homeless to have access to affordable, or free, housing.

In some instances, the water, heat and lights are still working
providing utmost the convenience for the "homeless."

However, these so-called "bando" or person living in abandoned houses
may be dangerous because some of them use candles to provide light,
creating a risk of causing a fire. There is also risk for a homeless
person of a confrontation with drug dealers, prostitutes, thieves and
the police.