Squatter Rent estimated $50 billion this year

They are staying in their homes for free about a year and a half on average, buying time to restructure their finances and providing an unexpected support for consumer spending, which makes up about 70 percent of the economy.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/print/2011-05-06/-squatter-rent-may-boost-spending-as-u-s-mortgage-holders-bail.html