California IN BRIEF : OAKLAND : 5 Homeless Arrested After Police Raid

Homeless advocates who had occupied three federally owned homes for several days promised to take over other abandoned buildings after five people were arrested for investigation of trespassing. “We’ll definitely be taking over other houses in Oakland,” said Terry Messman, leader of the Oakland Union for the Homeless. Police raided three homes owned by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to oust homeless activists who moved in five days earlier. “We feel HUD is the real criminal here,” Messman said. The owners of the homes were evicted for non-payment of their mortgages. HUD, which had guaranteed the mortgages, took over ownership. Two of the residences were auctioned off. Messman said the homes should be turned over to the homeless.