Elvis Summers, a resident of Los Angeles, befriended Smokie, a 60-year-old homeless lady who slept on the streets a few doors down from his apartment. After getting to know her, he was motivated to build her a $500 little house out of recyclable materials.

Summers was inspired by a news report he read about a homeless man in Oakland who built miniature dwellings out of leftover materials. He built the little house in five days, complete with two locks and robust wheels for carrying it around. The house is located outside of Elvis’ apartment, and the LAPD has agreed to let it stay as long as it is moved every 72 hours.

Summers recognized the scale of Los Angeles’ homeless problem after completing Smokie’s little house and initiated an ambitious mission to fund other shelters. To make the houses more accessible, he intends to use lighter and less expensive materials while maintaining structural integrity.

Summers has even offered to recruit homeless people to assist him in the construction of the tiny homes, giving them a sense of purpose and possibly altering their lives. The roof shingles and cedar siding for Smokie’s house were kindly supplied by Rick Sassen, the branch manager at supply company Allied Building, as final items Elvis couldn’t afford on his own. Sassen has agreed to negotiate a deal on future construction supplies 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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