Film Description

"We're dying in the streets - that should be against the law," is the no-holds-barred attitude of the homeless men and women who are taking control of their lives and taking over empty houses in Pam Yates and Peter Kinoy's tough, effective film.

On May 1st, 1990, homeless people in eight cities around the country seized empty (HUD) federal housing simultaneously. It was the first national coordinated homeless housing takeover ever. This one-hour, action packed video, produced with the help of Bruce Springsteen, takes the audience to the birth of a national poor people's movement. Skylight Pictures followed the takeovers with 12 crews in the eight cities, documenting the secret planning, the illegal occupations, and the hopeful aftermath of this bold endeavor. An official selection of the Sundance Film Festival, broadcast on PBS on the P.O.V. series. Released theatrically at The Film Forum (New York City).

"A stunning, hard-hitting and thought-provoking visual and verbal statement about the homeless and not-so-hapless in America." - Ed Kaufman, The Hollywood Reporter