Homes Not Jails is an American organization that is affiliated with the San Francisco Tenants Union.[1] It describes itself as an all-volunteer organization committed to housing homeless people through direct action.[2] The group was formed in 1992.[3] Homes Not Jails does public actions as well as legislative advocacy and squatting (occupying empty buildings for free). Homes Not Jails groups do "housing takeovers", acts of civil disobedience in which vacant buildings are publicly occupied, to demonstrate the availability of vacant property and to advocate that it be used for housing. The group has done many such occupations. Homes Not Jails has also done and assisted with hundreds of "covert" squats in which vacant buildings are broken into so that people in need of housing can move in.
Homes Not Jails began in 1992[3] in the wave of homeless activist groups that began nationwide following the economic recession of the 1980s. In addition to traditional homeless advocacy, Homes Not Jails has used squatting as a tactic since its first public takeover. The group began in fall of 1992 with the takeover of a building at 90 Golden Gate Avenue in the Tenderloin District. On Thanksgiving Day, shortly after this first occupation, the group held a rally and marched to another building at 250 Taylor Street, and publicly occupied it. There were originally about 30 members.[4] Homes Not Jails has had extensive media coverage of its advocacy in support of affordable housing, its covert housing of people in vacant buildings, and its protection of buildings slated for demolition.[2]
San Francisco Supervisor Angela Alioto introduced legislation in 2004 sponsored by Homes Not Jails that would allow the city to seize abandoned buildings and give them to nonprofit housing groups; these could employ homeless people to repair and live in them.[4]
Homes Not Jails relies on lists of addresses supplied by sympathizers and search teams. At least one search team a week has been organized since 1992.[2] On any given search the teams open one to a half-dozen vacant buildings. From 1994 to 1999 over 250 search teams have opened between 700 and 800 buildings.[2]
^Temple, James (2010-04-05). "Housing protest leads to takeover of duplex". SFGate. from the original on 2020-11-09. Retrieved 2020-09-27.
^ abcdeCorr, Anders. No Trespassing! Cambridge, MA: South End Press, 1999. pp. 17–18, 22–24.
^ abNovella Carpenter (January 27, 2009). "A Tale of Two Squatters". San Francisco Chronicle. from the original on June 20, 2012. Retrieved November 10, 2020.
^ abSteinberg, Michael (November 1, 1994). . The Progressive. Archived from the original on August 2, 2017.
homes, jails, american, organization, that, affiliated, with, francisco, tenants, union, describes, itself, volunteer, organization, committed, housing, homeless, people, through, direct, action, group, formed, 1992, does, public, actions, well, legislative, a. Homes Not Jails is an American organization that is affiliated with the San Francisco Tenants Union 1 It describes itself as an all volunteer organization committed to housing homeless people through direct action 2 The group was formed in 1992 3 Homes Not Jails does public actions as well as legislative advocacy and squatting occupying empty buildings for free Homes Not Jails groups do housing takeovers acts of civil disobedience in which vacant buildings are publicly occupied to demonstrate the availability of vacant property and to advocate that it be used for housing The group has done many such occupations Homes Not Jails has also done and assisted with hundreds of covert squats in which vacant buildings are broken into so that people in need of housing can move in Contents 1 History 2 Sweat equity 3 Covert squatting 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksHistory editHomes Not Jails began in 1992 3 in the wave of homeless activist groups that began nationwide following the economic recession of the 1980s In addition to traditional homeless advocacy Homes Not Jails has used squatting as a tactic since its first public takeover The group began in fall of 1992 with the takeover of a building at 90 Golden Gate Avenue in the Tenderloin District On Thanksgiving Day shortly after this first occupation the group held a rally and marched to another building at 250 Taylor Street and publicly occupied it There were originally about 30 members 4 Homes Not Jails has had extensive media coverage of its advocacy in support of affordable housing its covert housing of people in vacant buildings and its protection of buildings slated for demolition 2 San Francisco Supervisor Angela Alioto introduced legislation in 2004 sponsored by Homes Not Jails that would allow the city to seize abandoned buildings and give them to nonprofit housing groups these could employ homeless people to repair and live in them 4 Sweat equity editSweat equity is the cornerstone of the Homes Not Jails philosophy It is formulated to address the problem that most affordable housing is unaffordable for people with no income or people on General Assistance Supplemental Security Income or Aid to Families with Dependent Children 2 Covert squatting editHomes Not Jails relies on lists of addresses supplied by sympathizers and search teams At least one search team a week has been organized since 1992 2 On any given search the teams open one to a half dozen vacant buildings From 1994 to 1999 over 250 search teams have opened between 700 and 800 buildings 2 See also editHarvey Milk LGBT Democratic Club Umoja VillageReferences edit Temple James 2010 04 05 Housing protest leads to takeover of duplex SFGate Archived from the original on 2020 11 09 Retrieved 2020 09 27 a b c d e Corr Anders No Trespassing Cambridge MA South End Press 1999 pp 17 18 22 24 a b Novella Carpenter January 27 2009 A Tale of Two Squatters San Francisco Chronicle Archived from the original on June 20 2012 Retrieved November 10 2020 a b Steinberg Michael November 1 1994 Homes Not Jails The Progressive Archived from the original on August 2 2017 External links editSFTU Homes Not Jails Wiegand E 2004 Trespass at Will Squatting as Direct Action Human Right amp Justified Theft LiP Magazine Portals nbsp Anarchism nbsp San Francisco Bay Area Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Homes Not Jails amp oldid 1217494280, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
