Positive squatting

Days ago I read an article in a Spanish free magazine “calle 20”, the magazine of the new culture about new tendencies in the squatter movement. A group of artist squatters live in a large house in Leytonstone near London. Immediately I started to be interested in this new and I read more about “positive occupation”
The word squatters often provoke negative thoughts in people, but little by little the situation is changing. The new generation of squatters seems less politicised than its predecessors. After two decades of decline, statistics showed that the number of people living in squats in Wales and England has risen by 60 per cent since 1995. The growth has been particularly pronounced in large commercial properties, disused houses, offices and cinemas.
Today’s squatters are highly organised and efficient. Many have full-time work and drug problems are rare.
The occupants of the 491 Gallery in Leytonstone, east London, have transformed an old warehouse into a clean, attractive home. This group of artists has changed the space in a white-walled gallery with airy rooms and a big garden. The housemates invite the local community to use the space for artistic and environmental events. For some artists the squatting is the only way to get their utopia, because pays a rent in London costs between 1000 and 1500 euros. In this house a fair principle is applied and people who have financial resources pay a modest fee that help to those who cannot afford to pay. Positive squatting consists of occupying buildings and turning them into community resources.

Sometimes squatting is a good way to maintain the occupied buildings while the organisations planning for its future. For example it is very expensive to pay 24-hour security for an empty building. Squatting can save this money and allows recycling spaces. Sometimes squatters focus their activities on offering a wide range of services to the local community. What’s more, occupying empty buildings is positive because if a property is empty it can get damaged.
Some people who live in occupied houses are very proud of giving artistic spaces to people who need time and places to make beautiful things, like paintings or sculptures.

In this video we can see an example of “positive occupation”. In this house squatters have transformed the place from a derelict house into a comfortable place. For some people squatters are very pleasant neighbours and squatters help elderly people when they are in trouble.