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Man on mission to build tiny houses for Los Angeles homeless

Los Angeles resident Elvis Summers poses with his tiny house on wheels he built for a woman who had been sleeping on the streets in his South Los Angeles neighborhood on Thursday, May 7, 2015. Summers never thought more than 5.6 million people would watch a YouTube video of him constructing the 8-foot-long house for Irene "Smokie" McGhee, 60, a grandmother who’s been homeless for more than a decade. He estimates he spent less than $500 on plywood, shingles, a window and a door. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
Los Angeles resident Elvis Summers poses with his tiny house on wheels he built for a woman who had been sleeping on the streets in his South Los Angeles neighborhood on Thursday, May 7, 2015. Summers never thought more than 5.6 million people would watch a YouTube video of him constructing the 8-foot-long house for Irene "Smokie" McGhee, 60, a grandmother who’s been homeless for more than a decade. He estimates he spent less than $500 on plywood, shingles, a window and a door. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes) Los Angeles resident Elvis Summers poses with his tiny house on wheels he built for a woman who had been sleeping on the streets in his South Los Angeles neighborhood on Thursday, May 7, 2015. Summers never thought more than 5.6 million people would watch a YouTube video of him constructing the 8-foot-long house for Irene "Smokie" McGhee, 60, a grandmother who’s been homeless for more than a decade. He estimates he spent less than $500 on plywood, shingles, a window and a door. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

By Associated Press 3 min read

LOS ANGELES (AP) – After Elvis Summers built a tiny house on wheels for a woman who had been sleeping on the streets, he launched a crowdfunding campaign to construct similar shelters for other homeless people in his South Los Angeles neighborhood.

He had no grand ambitions beyond lending a helping hand in a city with thousands of residents without roofs over their heads.

“Honestly I thought I’d raise enough money to help a dozen people, call it a day, and then go back to stressing about my job,” said the 38-year-old, who runs an online apparel store.

Summers never thought more than 5.6 million people would watch a YouTube video of him constructing the 8-foot-long house for “Smokie,” a grandmother who’s been homeless for more than a decade. He estimates he spent less than $500 on plywood, shingles, a window and a door. The video ends with Smokie doing a little jig and hanging up a “Home Sweet Home” sign.

The GoFundMe campaign – called Tiny House, Huge Purpose – has brought in nearly $60,000 in less than a month. And Summers’ inbox is overflowing with offers for help from carpenters, homeless advocates, retirees and children as young as 6.