Page "Squatting" Paragraph 5

There is an important distinction to be made between squatting by necessity and squatting as political statement.

In this period of global recession and increased housing foreclosures, squatting has become far more prevalent in Western, developed nations.

In some cases, need-based and politically motivated squatting go hand in hand.

According to Dr. Kesia Reeve, who specializes in housing research, " in the context of adverse housing circumstances, limited housing opportunity and frustrated expectations, squatters effectively remove themselves from and defy the norms of traditional channels of housing consumption and tenure power relations, bypassing the ' rules ' of welfare provision.

" In effect, beleaguered citizens living in a welfare state that cannot provide them with adequate resources take action into their own hands and squat.