OAKLAND, Calif. - A group of homeless mothers and their families could be back on the streets as early as this week. This, after an Alameda County Superior Court judge ruled they must leave the West Oakland house they illegally took occupancy of starting in November.
Judge Patrick McKinney gave the “Moms 4 Housing” squatters five days to comply with his order to leave the property. As time grows short, the women have rejected an olive branch and are hoping for a miracle.
With the clock ticking, Sunday some thoughtful Oaklanders brought food for a group of women under court order to end their illegal occupancy of this house in the 2900 block of Magnolia Street.
“I just want to show support for them and encourage them to stay strong,” said middle school teacher Shula Bien, who brought a pan of lasagna. “It’s about time. This has been a crisis for a long time.”
Dominique Walker and her children moved into the vacant West Oakland property in mid-November.
“We are here. We are not leaving. We’ve been here since November 18th. That is a win for us,” she said at a Friday news conference.
Walker was joined by several other homeless women and their children shortly after she started squatting in the vacant property. The group claims it’s unable to find affordable housing, and took refuge in the house since it sat unoccupied.
Wedgewood Properties purchased the foreclosed property in July for $500,000. But Wedgewood says they were not able to take occupancy until November, two days after the mother’s had claimed the house as their own. Friday the company offered two months of free housing and moving services if the women will leave. Through Twitter, the group rejected that offer, saying, “It is deeply disingenuous for this multi-million dollar corporation, through their multi-million dollar public relations firm, to pretend to be concerned about the well-being of Black families. Their ‘offer’ is an insult.”
“We’re surprised Mother’s for Housing rejected Wedgewood’s offer,” said Sam Singer, a spokesman for Wedgewood Properties. “This is out of our hands. The sheriff’s will evict them. It’s quite possible they will evict time sometime this week. Maybe even tomorrow. We encourage them to leave peacefully and voluntarily.”
Sunday, Fox 2 contacted residents in the house to see if they’re willing to reconsider the Wedgewood offer, but they declined comment, and instead rested on the Tweeted refusal.
Alameda County sheriff’s deputies could come to enforce the judge’s eviction order as soon as Wednesday, January 15, 2020.
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