Squatting is the act of occupying an abandoned or unoccupied
space or building that the squatter does not own, rent or
otherwise have permission to use. Squatters often claim rights
over the spaces they have squatted by virtue of occupation,
rather than ownership; in this sense, squatting is similar to
(and potentially a necessary condition of) adverse possession,
by which a possessor of real property without title may
eventually gain legal title to the real property. Squatting has
a long history, as old as or older than the idea of property
itself. To squat in many countries is in itself a crime; in
others it is only seen as a civil conflict between the owner and
the occupants. Property law and the state have traditionally
favored the property owner. However, in many cases where
squatters had de facto ownership, laws have been changed to
legitimize their status. It is said that the United States
Homestead Act is an example of such legislation. Additionally,
US states which have a shortage of housing tend to