Vacant homes on E. Preston Street in Baltimore. (Photo by Elijah Pittman/Maryland Matters)
When news headlines spotlight “squatters” occupying homes in Maryland, it’s easy to respond with punitive measures. But usually, behind every story of someone we’re calling a “squatter” occupying a vacant property is a larger crisis: rising housing expenses, declining wages, and a generational commitment to sabotaging our social safety net.
Squatting in Maryland isn’t new, but recent viral videos and sensationalized news stories have raised concerns about it as a growing threat to property owners and neighborhood safety. This framing is misguided. This isn’t about relative “bad actors.” It is about systemic failings forcing people into dire situations…