Economic crisis leads to rise in squatting and homelessness

The economic crisis in the UK has forced increasing numbers of people to live on the streets or squat in properties left unoccupied by owners. Our correspondent Fareena Alam visited one such property -- a home worth over £5 million, which is now being used as a squat by 30 people, who say they have nowhere else to go.

Featuring

Craig, squatter

Emmeline, squatter

John, squatter

Mark Thomas, Head of Campaigns at Shelter UK

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• squatting
• London
• Highgate
• homeless
• homelessness
• squat
• Press TV
• Fareena Alam
• Crisis
• financial crisis
• credit crunch
• UK

[TheCoffeeandafag]

@29billyclementine excellent. what a wonderful world this is.

[TheCoffeeandafag]

@29billyclementine i have. its over. they all live with me now. i turned a few fish and bread rolls into enough food for all of them and we lived forever. yaaaaaaaaay. maybe you should help too, you might enjoy it.

[TheCoffeeandafag]

@29billyclementine you have the mind of a child. if only you could imagine yourself living in a poor country with no hope, and all you wanted was an escape to a better land. you are more likely to become homeless if you have moved from another country. you are more like to become homeless if you are a non-white. a significant amount of homeless in the uk are the polish that you people complain about. try to have some backing, instead of just speculation.

[TheRationalizer]

"Already open window" - yeah, after they had "already opened" it.

I read in the paper that this building was only empty while the owner was waiting for builders to come in and do some work. I don't agree with having long term empty houses whilst people are homeless, but this is wrong.