Opinions vary on whether Occupy Wall Street or its sister occupations across the country are adding to the dialogue, or just making a mess. But many issues discussed at the Occupations are relevant in communities across the country, particularly that of the banks’ role in foreclosure and eviction.

In San Francisco, activists have taken the concept of occupation a few steps further by purchasing foreclosed rental properties and turning them into multifamily cooperatives.

A story from Florida illustrates the plight of tenants caught between banks and property owners during foreclosure. With renters making up an estimated 40% of families nationwide facing eviction due to foreclosure, scores of blameless renters, many of them low income, are still affected by the foreclosure crisis.