Moms 4 Housing facts for kids

Moms 4 Housing is a group of housing activists in Oakland, California. It became well-known after three Black women, who had experienced homelessness, moved their families into an empty three-bedroom house. They did this without the owner's permission. This action brought a lot of attention to big problems like homelessness, the need for affordable homes, gentrification (when neighborhoods change and become too expensive for original residents), and human rights. In January 2020, after refusing a judge's order to leave, the "moms" were peacefully arrested and removed by police. A few days later, the governor and mayor helped make a deal. A local community group bought the house, which became known as the "Moms' House." After fixing it up, the group started using it as a temporary home for mothers who needed a place to stay. The actions of Moms 4 Housing even encouraged California lawmakers to change housing laws across the state.

The Story of the Moms' House

Why the Moms Moved In

In August 2019, a company called Wedgewood Properties bought an empty three-bedroom house in Oakland. They bought it for over $500,000 at an auction. This company often buys homes, fixes them up, and then quickly sells them for more money. This is sometimes called "house flipping." News reports said Wedgewood was one of the busiest house flippers in Oakland.

At the same time, it was very expensive to live in Oakland. To rent a two-bedroom house in that area, a family needed to earn a lot of money each year. Many people, especially Black and Latina women in the area, earned much less. This made it very hard for them to afford to buy or even rent a home.

Moving In and the Court Case

The moms' action was a planned act of civil disobedience. This means they peacefully broke a law to protest something they believed was unfair. They wanted to show how house flipping and rising costs were hurting communities. Carroll Fife, who was a community organizer at the time, helped plan the action. She told the moms she couldn't find them homes to rent, but if they trusted her, they would have a place to stay.

On November 18, 2019, Dominique Walker, who was a community activist and a mother of two young children, moved into the house with two other women who had been homeless. They started to clean and repair the house. They also brought in appliances and began paying the utility bills.

Wedgewood Properties took legal action to make the moms leave. On December 30, 2020, a judge heard arguments. The moms' lawyers argued that having a home is a human right. They said that making the moms leave would go against their basic rights.

However, on January 10, 2020, the judge ordered Dominique Walker to leave the house within five days. The judge said she didn't have a legal right to stay there. He also said that while the social problems the moms raised were important, they were not part of his court case.

The moms' lawyer, Leah Simon-Weisberg, said she wasn't surprised by the decision. She explained that in the United States, property rights are often seen as more important than human rights. Dominique Walker responded to the order by saying, "We are here. And we're not leaving." She added, "Today is not a defeat. This is the beginning of a movement."

The Eviction

After talks with the police department didn't lead to an agreement, and the five days were up, many supporters gathered outside the house. On January 14, 2020, early in the morning, police officers arrived in riot gear and with armored vehicles. Some people in the crowd threw things at the officers. The officers used a battering ram to get into the house, which they said was blocked.

The police arrested two of the moms and moved their furniture outside. The two women, along with two men, were released later that day after money was raised for their bail. A police spokesperson said their officers acted with great care, knowing that "the whole world was watching." He said those arrested had asked to be peacefully taken into custody.

Dominique Walker was not arrested. She was being interviewed for a news program when the eviction happened. The interview ended suddenly when news came that the police were at the door.

Oakland's mayor, Libby Schaaf, was surprised by how much force was used. She said, "These are mothers; they're not criminals. They're mothers that have engaged in what I believe is a courageous act of civil disobedience to really highlight our housing crisis."

Dominique Walker later told the New York Times that staying in the house forever was never the main goal. She said, "The point was to bring even more awareness to a spiraling housing crisis that is on the verge of tearing the [San Francisco] Bay Area apart."

What Happened Next

On January 20, 2020, the Oakland mayor's office, Wedgewood, and Moms 4 Housing announced a deal. A group called the Oakland Community Land Trust would buy the Moms' House for its fair price. Wedgewood also agreed to give community land trusts the first chance to buy any other homes it owned in Oakland. This deal was helped by Mayor Schaaf and California Governor Gavin Newsom.

In May 2020, the trust finished buying the house for $587,500, using donations from supporters.

The actions of Moms 4 Housing inspired similar protests where people moved into empty homes in other cities like San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Minneapolis.

Dominique Walker, one of the founders of the moms' movement, was later elected to a local housing board in Berkeley in November 2020.

New Housing Laws

The Moms 4 Housing group also helped bring about new laws.

In September 2020, Governor Newsom signed a new law called Senate Bill 1079. This law was inspired by Moms 4 Housing. It stops companies from buying many homes at once during foreclosure auctions. If a company makes the highest bid, local governments, non-profits, and even individuals have 45 days to make a higher bid and buy the property instead. The law also lets cities fine companies up to $5,000 a day if they leave a property empty and uncared for longer than 30 days.

When her bill became law, Senator Nancy Skinner said, "SB 1079 sends a clear message to Wall Street: California homes are not yours to gobble up; we won't tolerate another corporate takeover of housing."

Who Are Moms 4 Housing?

Moms 4 Housing is a group of women from Oakland who have been homeless or are struggling to find affordable housing. Dominique Walker and Misty Cross were two of the first moms to move into the Magnolia Street house. Other members included Tolani King and Jesse Turner.

Carroll Fife, who was the main organizer during the protest, is no longer running the group. Dominique Walker and other moms are now leading the organization.

What Is Their Mission?

Moms 4 Housing believes that having a home is a basic human right. They think that homes in a community should not stay empty, especially when owned by big companies, while people, especially children, need a place to live. The group's main goal is to get housing back for the community from people who buy and sell homes just to make a quick profit.

After the Moms' House was bought, the group fixed it up. It is now a temporary home for mothers who need housing. Mothers who live there agree to pay a small part of their income as rent. They can stay for up to two years while they work on improving their financial situation. During their stay, they get help with things like counseling and financial planning. Bry'ana Wallace and her young son were the first family to live in the Moms' House in December 2021.

The group hopes to get more properties in the future. They also want to hire women who are learning construction skills to help renovate these homes.

Images for kids

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  The Moms' House in October 2023