Squatting

Title: A Deep Dive into Squatting: The Unconventional Survival Strategy

Definition: Squatting is defined as the action of occupying an abandoned or unoccupied area of land or a building, usually residential, without owning, renting, or having lawful permission to use. For some homeless individuals, squatting serves as a survival strategy in response to the acute shortage of affordable housing.

Description: Squatting has its roots in various socio-economic contexts worldwide. It represents a social phenomenon where individuals or groups occupy unused land or buildings. The practice may be a manifestation of homelessness or may reflect organized political resistance movements, like the squatters' rights campaigns. Since squatting involves the unauthorized occupation, it often creates legal and civil disputes around property rights and modern urban development.

Objectives:
- Occupation of unused buildings or land for shelter or residence.
- Advocacy and initiation of social and political reform regarding housing rights.
- Mitigation of homelessness and housing shortage by utilizing abandoned infrastructures.
- Creation of alternative living spaces, often with communal principles.

Mechanisms:
- Identification and occupation of abandoned or unoccupied buildings or plots of land.
- Maintenance of squatted locations to make them habitable.
- Legal battles to gain recognition or to avoid eviction.
- Mobilization of public support, often through organizing protests or public demonstrations.

Benefits:
- Provision of shelter for homeless or low-income individuals in a housing crisis.
- Reactive use of unutilized properties, which can combat urban decay.
- Possibilities for self-management and creation of alternative communities.

Challenges:
- Legal troubles including potential eviction and prosecution.
- Lack of basic amenities and potential health risks.
- Social stigma and marginalization.
- Potential for conflict with property owners and authorities.

Examples:
1. Freetown Christiania, a self-proclaimed autonomous anarchistic district in Copenhagen, Denmark, originally started out as a squat.
2. The Lower East Side of Manhattan, New York, has a rich history of squatting, associated with the bohemian and punk subcultures.
3. In Amsterdam, the Netherlands, squatting gained significant traction in the 60s and 70s, with some squatted buildings eventually becoming legalized.

Further Reading:
1. "Squatting in Europe: Radical Spaces, Urban Struggles" by Squatting Europe Kollective. (https://www.radicalopenaccess.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Squatting-in-Europe-2020_FINAL.pdf)
2. "The Autonomous City: A History of Urban Squatting" by Alexander Vasudevan. (https://www.versobooks.com/books/2124-the-autonomous-city)
3. Article on Squatting in The Guardian. (https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2011/oct/31/squatting-lawful-activity-outlawed)