Miami activist illegally moves people into foreclosed homes — `liberating’ properties, he saysMax Rameau delivers his sales pitch like a pro. “All tile floor!” hesays during a recent showing. “And the living room, wow! It has greatblinds.”
But in nearly every other respect, he is unlike any real estateagent you’ve ever met. He is unshaven, drives a beat-up car and wearsgrungy cut-off sweat pants. He also breaks into the homes he shows. Andhis clients don’t have a dime for a down payment.
Rameau is an activist who has been executing a bailout plan of hisown around Miami’s empty streets: He is helping homeless peopleillegally move into foreclosed homes.
“We’re matching homeless people with people-less homes,” he said with a grin.
Rameau and a group of like-minded advocates formed Take Back theLand, which also helps the new “tenants” with secondhand furniture,cleaning supplies and yard upkeep. So far, he has moved six familiesinto foreclosed homes and has nine on a waiting list.
“I think everyone deserves a home,” said Rameau, who said he takesno money from his work with the homeless. “Homeless people across thecountry are squatting in empty homes. The question is: Is this going tobe done out of desperation or with direction?”
With the housing market collapsing, squatting in foreclosed homes isbelieved to be on the rise around the country. But squatters usuallymove in on their own, at night, when no one is watching. Rarely is thephenomenon as organized as Rameau’s effort to “liberate” foreclosedhomes.