Squatters

Squatters are individuals or groups who occupy a property or land without the owner's permission or legal right. They often reside in abandoned buildings, vacant lots, or other spaces where they lack legal tenancy. Squatting can be driven by various factors, including homelessness, lack of affordable housing, and a desire for alternative living arrangements. The legal status of squatting varies significantly across different jurisdictions, with some areas having specific laws that define and regulate squatter's rights and others considering it a form of trespassing.

Squatters meaning with examples

• After the factory closed, the abandoned warehouse became a haven for squatters, who saw it as a temporary refuge from the harsh realities of street homelessness. They set up makeshift living spaces, unaware of the legal challenges they faced. This highlighted the lack of affordable housing.
• The local council struggled to evict the squatters from the derelict apartment building. The group refused to leave, citing the need for safe shelter and the city's chronic housing shortage. Their actions caused significant controversy among the local community, and legal battles.
• The artist collective, seeking affordable space for their studio, decided to occupy the empty, decaying theater. The squatters organized a petition, hoping to negotiate with the owner for a form of temporary permission. They hoped to transform the building into a community arts center.
• Police were called to disperse a group of squatters who had occupied a luxury home, protesting the city's economic inequality. Their protest aimed to raise awareness about the lack of affordable housing in the area, using direct action and media attention.
• Facing eviction, the squatters who had occupied the abandoned building worked to secure a legal aid to help them obtain the property by claiming adverse possession if the property remained unoccupied for a certain time period, provided they met other specific criteria, such as paying property taxes.