Volunteers in Los Angeles were busy last week trying to finish 10 tiny wooden houses for the homeless. The volunteers are part of a group called My Tiny House Project LA, a movement to build stop-gap shelters in L.A., San Diego, and Oakland. Managing editor Tami Roleff has more details…
The tiny houses are just big enough to lie down inside, have wheels so they’re off the ground, and feature a small window and a locking door. Founder Elvis Summers places them wherever he can around town making a difference, one down-and-out person at a time.
“There’s human beings out there in the cold that need help. It’s the right thing to do. And it’s Christmas. The best Christmas present would be for someone to step forward with land so we could build a small community, get the people warm and safe and off the street.”
Summers built the first house for a homeless neighbor in April. His photos on Facebook went viral and it soon became his life’s work. So far, he’s raised $110,000 and is building them full time along with a team of volunteers. California has 116,000 people living on the streets and only enough shelter beds to accommodate a third of them.
Homeless advocate Lisa Kogan started a similar project in San Diego, but the first house was impounded by police two weeks and its new owner, a homeless man named Red, was arrested for lodging without consent and encroaching on public property.
Kogan says she bailed Red out, they’re getting the house back, and she hopes someone will donate land to put it on.
“This house wasn’t just providing shelter, it provided hope for one person. He loved it so much. He said that it was the first time he’s had four walls and a roof over his head in a very long time.”
BEST CHRISTMAS PRESENT FOR THE HOMELESS: A TINY HOUSE
