Moms 4 Housing facts for kids

Moms 4 Housing is a group of housing activists in Oakland, California. They became well-known after three Black women, who had been without homes, moved their families into an empty house. They did this without the owner's permission to show how many people need affordable homes.

Their actions brought attention to important issues like homelessness, the lack of affordable housing, and how neighborhoods change (called gentrification). In January 2020, after a judge told them to leave, the "moms" were arrested and moved out of the house.

A few days later, the governor and the mayor helped make a deal. A local group called a community land trust bought the house, which became known as the "Moms' House." After fixing it up, Moms 4 Housing started using it as a temporary home for mothers who needed a place to stay. The group's actions also inspired lawmakers in California to create new housing laws.

The Moms' House Story

Why the Moms Took Action

In August 2019, a company named Wedgewood Properties bought an empty three-bedroom house in Oakland. This company often buys houses, fixes them, and then sells them quickly for more money. This is called "flipping" houses.

At the time, it was very expensive to rent or buy a home in Oakland. Many families, especially Black and Latina women, earned much less than what was needed to afford a place to live.

Moving In and Going to Court

The moms' decision to move into the house was a planned act of civil disobedience. This means they broke a rule on purpose to protest something they believed was unfair. They wanted to show that houses should not sit empty when people need homes.

On November 18, 2019, Dominique Walker, a community activist and mother of two young children, moved into the house with two other mothers. They cleaned the house, made repairs, and started paying for the utilities.

The company that owned the house took the moms to court to make them leave. The moms' lawyers argued that having a home is a basic human right. However, on January 10, 2020, the judge ordered the moms to leave. The judge said that while the housing issues were important, the court's job was to decide who legally owned the property.

Dominique Walker said, "We are here. And we're not leaving." She saw this as the start of a bigger movement.

The Eviction Day

After talks with the police failed, many supporters gathered outside the house. On January 14, 2020, early in the morning, police officers arrived. They entered the house and arrested two of the moms. The moms' furniture was moved outside. The arrested women were released later that day after people helped raise money for their bail.

The police said they were careful, knowing that "the whole world was watching." Oakland's mayor, Libby Schaaf, was surprised by how much force was used. She said, "These are mothers; they're not criminals."

Dominique Walker explained that staying in the house forever was not the main goal. The point was to make more people aware of the serious housing crisis in the area.

What Happened Next

On January 20, 2020, an agreement was reached. A group called the Oakland Community Land Trust would buy the Moms' House. The company, Wedgewood, also agreed to give community land trusts the first chance to buy any other homes they owned in Oakland.

In May 2020, the land trust bought the house using donations from supporters. Moms 4 Housing's actions also inspired similar protests in other cities across the United States.

Laws Inspired by Moms 4 Housing

The actions of Moms 4 Housing helped lead to new laws in California.

In September 2020, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 1079 into law. This law was inspired by Moms 4 Housing. It makes it harder for big companies to buy many homes at once during foreclosure sales. It also gives local governments, non-profit groups, and individuals a chance to buy these homes if a corporation makes the highest bid.

Additionally, the law allows cities to fine companies that leave homes empty and uncared for (called "blighted") for more than 30 days. This law sends a message that homes in California are not just for big companies to buy up.

Who Are Moms 4 Housing?

Moms 4 Housing is a group of women from Oakland who have experienced homelessness or struggled to find stable housing. Dominique Walker and Misty Cross were two of the first moms to move into the Magnolia Street house.

The group believes that having a home is a human right. They think that houses should not be left empty by companies when people, especially children, need a place to live. Their main goal is to help communities get housing back from people who buy homes just to make a quick profit.

After the Moms' House was bought and fixed up, it became a temporary home for mothers. Families living there pay a small part of their income as rent and can stay for up to two years. During their stay, they receive help with things like counseling and financial planning. The group hopes to get more properties in the future to help even more families.

Images for kids

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  The Moms' House in October 2023.