In the midst of Los Angeles’ sprawling homelessness crisis, an unorthodox community is emerging, where individuals are constructing tiny homes equipped with modern conveniences like televisions and air conditioning. These makeshift abodes are being sold for as little as $100 on the streets.
Following a recent California Post investigation that highlighted a squalid encampment along the LA River, where a resident tragically died from an overdose, another clandestine settlement has come to light within the bustling Fashion District.
During a visit on Tuesday, The Post explored a vividly colored tiny home, built by a 38-year-old resident named Osvaldo. The exterior of the structure stands out with its bright hues of orange, green, and yellow.
Upon stepping inside, one is met with a surprisingly well-organized space, complete with a bed, television, and even an air conditioning unit. This modest dwelling reflects Osvaldo’s determination to maintain a sense of normalcy and cleanliness in challenging circumstances.
“I clean up every day,” Osvaldo explained, detailing his routine of mopping the floors at least once a day. Prior to moving into his current home, he lived just a block away in a tent and tarp, an experience he described as fraught with conflict and drug-related issues. “Too much fighting… drugs… everything,” he recalled of his previous living situation.
Before living in his home, Osvaldo lived a block away in a tent and tarp but said.. It was “Too much fighting… drugs… everything,” he said of where he used to stay.
Previously, he spent six years homeless in Orange County, later moving to Los Angeles for work, but still getting by on odd jobs. “I work so I can buy my food,” he said.
Now, he’s building makeshift homes for others on the street. For about $100, he puts together their own versions, wood-framed, enclosed structures that offer a clear step up from tents and tarps.
“I made like… almost 10 houses so far,” he said.
His own home is the only one fully painted with bright finishes. Most of the others are subdued, some still raw with exposed wood, partial walls and unfinished frames.
He wants to paint, finish and turn them into something more permanent, something people can actually live in.
Just down the road, one of those unfinished homes belongs to Kathryn, 40, who says she’s been homeless for decades.
She walked us through what she has now, a small structure she calls a bedroom and a bathroom.
It’s basic. Bare. Still coming together. But she pointed to an open space and described what she said will soon be the living room.
Back at Osvaldo’s space, there’s another sign of how he lives, small green plants growing outside his home.
Green beans. “I planted like… six, seven… little beans,” he said.
All of it unfolds as Los Angeles pours staggering amounts of money into a system still struggling to keep people housed. The city spent more than $1 billion on homelessness programs in recent years.
Every homeless person we spoke to said they weren’t being offered services and couldn’t remember the last time they saw outreach teams from the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority.
The Post reported on Monday that one major effort alone cost roughly $300 million, aimed at moving people off the streets and into housing. But about 40 percent of those placed through that program ended up back on the streets within months.
