Use the Signal App to text “HELLO” to (205) 850-7329 for eviction defense updates and public action alerts

TAKE ACTION

SOCIAL MEDIA TOOLKIT


*IF IT’S VACANT…TAKE IT!*

On May Day join us in West Oakland to celebrate the power of our communities to house each other.

To join the action text HELLO to (250)850-7329 using the encrypted messaging app Signal, and be ready to meet up at 3pm! Details on the location will be sent through the text blast day of.

 

 
1. Twitter

 

Here are some sample tweets you can share to help inspire our communities to take direct action!

Sample Post #1

MAY DAY 2021: Celebrate the power of our communities to house each other through direct action! Text HELLO to (205)850-7329 on Signal to receive details and join the #HousetheBay action alert and eviction defense text blast. #IfItsVacantTakeIt #MayDay #HousingIsAHumanRight

Sample Post #2

Let’s take direct action and turn vacant properties into homes: for our unhoused neighbors, for ourselves, for all who are in need of shelter. We have the power to house each other! #housethebay #wehouseus #housingisahumanright

Sample Post #3

Over 4,000 #Oakland residents are homeless; 78% became homeless after losing their housing in Alameda County. If officials won’t move people off the streets and into housing during a global pandemic, they never will. We have the power to house each other! #housethebay #wehouseus

Sample Post #4

SMC owns over 200 properties in #WestOakland, at least 69 of which sit vacant. Their “ownership” is NOT legitimate; with this action we rebuke speculation! Take action and open vacant homes waiting to be flipped for profit. We have the power to house each other! #housethebay

Sample Post #5

Solidarity with tenants demanding #Oakland invest in social housing, open vacant units to unhoused people, fund community land trusts, and establish a tenant and community right to purchase. The private rental housing market drives gentrification! #housethebay #wehouseus

Sample Post #6

With ongoing encampment evictions & the end of Oakland’s eviction moratorium looming, we recognize the need for safe and secure housing NOW. Stop evictions NOW! We have the power to house each other! #housingisahumanright #ifitsvacanttakeit #mayday2021 #mayday

Text in the foreground with a blue sky and yellow wildflowers in the background
 
2. facebook/instagram

 

MAY DAY 2021: Celebrate the power of our communities to house each other through direct action! Text HELLO to (205)850-7329 on Signal to receive details and join the #HousetheBay action alert and eviction defense text blast. #IfItsVacantTakeIt #MayDay #HousingIsAHumanRight

Text in the foreground with a blue sky and yellow wildflowers in the background
Text in the foreground with a fancy suburban house in the background
Text in the foreground with yellow flowers in the background

 

Sample Post #1: We Have the Power to House Each Other

 

There are more empty houses than homeless people in the Bay Area. No one should be homeless, especially when buildings are sitting empty. It is past time to open vacant homes and house the thousands of Bay Area residents sleeping outside and in shelters! If the City won’t do this during a global pandemic, it never will! We can take direct action and turn vacant properties into homes: for our unhoused neighbors, for ourselves, for all who are in need of shelter. We have the power to house each other!

#housingisahumanright #wehouseus #wehavethepowertohouseeachother #oakland #stopgentrification #stopspeculation #decommodifyhousing #ifitsvacanttakeit #mayday2021 #mayday

 

 

Text in the foreground with pixel style image of a small house at night
Text in the foreground with pixel style image of a small house at night

 

 

Sample Post #2: Stop the Speculators

 

Housing speculators have been a driving force of gentrification in Oakland, displacing Black communities and driving up housing prices. SMC alone owns over 200 properties in West Oakland, at least 69 of which sit vacant. Their “ownership” of Oakland is NOT legitimate; with this action we hope to encourage our allies to rebuke speculation directly and occupy the thousands of vacant homes waiting to be flipped for profit. We have the power to house each other!

#housingisahumanright #wehouseus #wehavethepowertohouseeachother #oakland #stopgentrification #stopspeculation #decommodifyhousing #ifitsvacanttakeit #mayday2021 #mayday

 

Text in the foreground with pixel style image of a small house at night

Sample Post #3: Housing is a Human Right

 

Everyone is entitled to safe and secure housing. There are more than 4,000 Oakland residents experiencing homelessness, most of whom became homeless after losing their housing in Alameda County. If Oakland officials won’t move people off the streets and into housing during a global pandemic, they never will. We have the power to house each other!

#housingisahumanright #wehouseus #wehavethepowertohouseeachother #oakland #stopgentrification #stopspeculation #decommodifyhousing #ifitsvacanttakeit #mayday2021 #mayday

 

 

 

Text in the foreground with pixel style image of a small house at night

 

Sample Post #4: Decommodify Housing

 

We stand in solidarity with tenants demanding that the city invest in social housing, open publicly-owned and vacant units to unhoused people, fund community land trusts, and establish a tenant and community right to purchase. The private rental housing market continues to drive up housing costs and allow tenants to be discriminated against and harassed in their homes. Instead of allowing investors to make money off of our basic needs, the city should fund housing that serves the community. We have the power to house each other!

#housethebay #housingisahumanright #wehouseus #wehavethepowertohouseeachother #oakland #stopgentrification #stopspeculation #decommodifyhousing #ifitsvacanttakeit #mayday2021 #mayday

 

Text in the foreground with pixel style image of a tent in a meadow

 

Sample Post #5: Stop the Evictions

 

The City of Oakland’s primary response to our housing crisis has been to ramp up the eviction of encampments rather than provide housing for those who desperately need it. And with the end of Oakland’s moratorium on evicting tenants looming, more of us than ever are at risk of losing our homes. We organize in solidarity with tenants unions fighting back through eviction defense networks. We organize in solidarity with communities fighting back against encampment evictions and supporting our unhoused neighbors. We have the power to defend each other! We have the power to house each other!

#housingisahumanright #wehouseus #wehavethepowertohouseeachother #oakland #stopgentrification #stopspeculation #decommodifyhousing #ifitsvacanttakeit #mayday2021 #mayday

 

 

thank you!

Thank you for helping us #HouseTheBay.