Elvis Summers, a Los Angeles resident, befriended a 60-year-old homeless woman named Smokie who slept on the streets a few doors down from his apartment. After getting to know her, he was inspired to build her a tiny home made out of recycled materials, costing him about $500. Summers was inspired by a news article he read about a man in Oakland who made tiny homes for the homeless out of discarded materials. It took him five days to build the tiny house, complete with two locks and sturdy wheels for moving it around. The house is situated outside of Elvis’s apartment, and the LAPD has allowed it to remain there as long as it’s moved to a different place every 72 hours.
After building Smokie’s tiny house, Summers realized the magnitude of the homeless problem in Los Angeles and launched an ambitious project to fund more shelters. He plans to use lighter and cheaper materials, without sacrificing the strength of the house, to make them more affordable.
Summers has even offered to hire homeless people to help build the tiny homes with him, giving them a sense of purpose and potentially changing their lives. Rick Sassen, the branch manager at supply company Allied Building, kindly donated the roof shingles and cedar siding for Smokie’s house, as final items Elvis couldn’t afford on his own. Sassen has promised to work out a deal on future building materials for the same cause.
Summers also gave Smokie his phone and helps her keep it charged so she can contact her family. The tiny home and phone have made a significant impact on Smokie’s life, giving her a sense of stability and the ability to reconnect with loved ones. Summers hopes that his project will inspire others to take action and help solve the homelessness crisis in their own communities.
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