Homeless man builds entire home along Arroyo Seco next to 110 Freeway

Nestled along the Arroyo Seco next to the 110 Freeway near Highland Park sits a community of homes, but it's not what you'd expect.
The homes, which are mostly makeshift structures made out of different materials like tents and tarps, were created by homeless people.
"It's good because nobody bothers us," said Cesar, who lives in one of the makeshift homes. "That's why we're here." READ MORE: abc7.com/homel...

[@dsm9785]

No mortgage or rent, no taxes, no utility payments. The American dream!

[@firstlast8258]

Gawd bless Murica 🤓 🖕

[@cherriberri7161]

People are bringing them food???

[@TheDoomWizard]

I'm moving off grid in two weeks

[@chanjackie2299]

At least these homeless, they are evolving.

[@Chris-Rife]

Yeah, until city, state, or government figures you out... then a bulldozer, trash crew show up along with police all backed by the US taxman. This news station scored a cool video, the homeless man that builds entire home along Arroyo bout to meet the taxman.

[@nancymcmonarch]

90 years ago, after the Great Depression, there were HELLA people living in makeshift shelters like this, all across the United States. I'm thinking their spirits are smiling down on this man and the little shanty town he's helped build. Bless all our home-challenged neighbors! It really could happen to anyone. 😢

[@sylviat9692]

Who snitched on him? Now he's gonna have the city on his back and are going to tear it down

[@jessicawagers2321]

Probably a biker on the path across the way!! Those bikers are all snitches!!!

[@TheAlgomalo]

Good.

[@toadwar9300]

ABC DID. They did an interview with him but now they took it down bc it got millions of views and thousands of comments. They knew what they were doing. JERKS.

[@kisht7469]

@@TheAlgomaloYou’re evil. Homelessness can happen to anyone including you.

[@javee-th5no]

It's only right.. im in debt for half a million for 30yrs.

[@Daverloko1]

That's a $700,000 fixer upper home in today's market

[@goemon9378]

Wow, that guy is pretty rich then

[@ginadelsasso288]

No joke... I saw a tare down going for 1.1 million that looked worse than what he built.

[@r3drift]

Only in California

[@brooklynbandit6788]

Someone give that man a construction job!

[@missld6856]

@brooklynbandit6788, He is capable of applying for a job like that and getting it, it doesn’t need to be handed over

[@ST-rj8iu]

@@missld6856 He probably doesn't have a computer and many libraries will not let you use the computer without proof of residents. I get what you are saying though...he just needs a hand up for a few months.

[@kidmac1514]

He doesn’t want one!! I live here! They say they prefer not to pay rent and live homeless. I’m a felon and get a job in a day. With skills I assure u this guy to go to work tomorrow!!

[@kidmac1514]

@@ST-rj8iuwow u think it’s a computer 😂 I live here and they give all homeless a smart phone. I came here and went with nothing 5 years ago to rehab from across the country. They give u a phone food stamps and Medicaid. I now work at Tesla making good money and sober. I promise he can do the same quickly but drugs is all they want . They tell u that. They would rather get high and be homeless

[@masterozzy666]

he would rather have his meth and vodka

[@BobCostas-db5hb]

Los angeles needs to lower rent. Its getting ridiculous

[@ggeorge4144]

If the government wants to lower rent they should buy the properties. They have no right to tell landlord how much he can charge for rent. Let the government go into the rental housing business. I had a business restoring apartments after bums who don't pay got evicted. They would cause thousands of dollars damage, screw the landlord out several months rent, and then have to be forcibly evicted. I have zero sympathy for these people.

[@Ghost-sz2qm]

Maybe don’t vote in people who lets in any illegal immigrant in the world. That usually messes with jobs and housing for citizens. Also giving illegals millions and then kicking homeless citizens to the curve doesn’t help. It’s also bad if your state leader sweeps homelessness under the rug when a Chinese dictator visits. You get what you vote for.

[@1diagram]

@@ggeorge4144i hear you. I had to give up my only piece of property, a tiny condo in Boston, because of one bad tenant after another not paying. Having said that.....the rent is too high in Los Angeles . It is nearly impossible for an average working person to find an apartment. I'm one of those people. We are JUST making our rent and we work hard, cook all of our meals and live very frugally. We are trying desperately to find something more affordable and it doesn't exist. Somewhere along the way the greed has to stop.

[@Mercurystars4202]

Either that, or buy land and construct state government owned apartments so that the state charge affordable prices. Rent is out of control but no one wants to do anything because of “muh culture”.

[@adampope5107]

Homes that aren't primary residences should be taxed higher to discourage capitalists from buying everything up and skyrocketing prices. Private equity and corporations buying up properties are a huge part of the massive surge in prices we've seen.

[@johnklinger943]

Going from that awesome house to a homeless shelter would be a prison sentence

[@frozencowboy6552]

Hey...it's out of the way. It's not near anyone's business, recreation, or home. It's well built and not a hazard. I say leave them alone.

[@krackerjack1233]

He should at least pay property tax like everyone else

[@frozencowboy6552]

@@krackerjack1233 technically you have to own property to have to pay tax on it.

[@krackerjack1233]

@@frozencowboy6552 touché

[@SannTenny]

So everyone else in California has to pay for their homes and property taxes but not him?! Do you think everyone can just build a home wherever they want to?

[@frozencowboy6552]

@@SannTenny well considering that's how it was literally done for thousands of years....yes. in the grand scheme of things taking away homesteading laws and forcing taxes on property owners is relatively new. Plus everyone has to exist somewhere. You'd rather they live in miserable conditions?

[@sopascat7]

At least he’s not sleeping in a cardboard box. Homeless shelters are Not safe. The guy works as a Day Laborer. Kudos to him for building a shed house w/his own hands & sweat. I’m impressed how he built that stone fence.

[@FourHuskyHomestead]

It’s not on his land ! He doses not own the land or pay taxes in the land and should not have ever built it. It’s going to be destroyed now and cleaned up. Or should be. The government is a horrific mess.

[@sopascat7]

This man works & doing no harm in the community. The neighborhood complains b/c he doesn’t pay taxes & they want him to sleep on streets in a cardboard box.

[@Blurb777]

@@FourHuskyHomestead Will you take him in, then? You don't care that at least one person is not sleeping out in the streets? If he is working, by the way, he DOES pay taxes, and that land is public land so , , , ,

[@gingermcgarvey7773]

Stop making excuses for breaking the law. You can not do this! This is why it's gotten so bad. Everyone has an excuse for not following the law and doing what they please.

[@sopascat7]

@Ginger, it’s obvious you prefer a druggie homeless person, over a homeless person that Works for his/her money. People like you that continue the homeless population to grow.

[@cocoreese5930]

Why report this story and destroy their lives. Now people will complain and the city will take down what they worked so hard to build. Leave the people alone they are bothering nobody.

[@nikkidarkangelpnope8400]

You'd be amazed how many people actually have the skills to build small uncomplicated homes that are safe if only they were allowed to do so. Eventually the gap between the have yachts and have nots will grow so large that it will become unpreventable and tent cities will give way to shanty towns.

[@marewaltwms1]

True the people speaking against probably should evaluate how close they are to a life circumstance that could put them in the same circumstances. I would be asking that man how did you do this so that I would be prepared

[@armandobroncas4124]

1 room full utilities, slight road and water noise $1,800 a month.

[@beauno83]

He could probably sell it for close to a million, including the hammock and that victory flag :)

[@lauracook7608]

😅

[@FinnHutcherson]

It depends on the area

[@djhbr]

Includes Free Laundery direct on the river (closed in the summer)

[@djhbr]

1.3M on Zillow. 😅

[@justmejenny7986]

Someone hire this man for construction.

[@mikeflohr4043]

Doesn't that make him not homeless?

[@MThomasB]

LOL

[@WindFireAllThatKindOfThing]

Shanty town is still a town :P The Normies just can't admit that they believe being 'homeless' means being a Poor. Cuz it's harder to not be thrown into the volcano if you say you 'hate these peasants & poors' than to say you 'hate all these smelly homeless'

[@kungfumind.]

If you're not paying property taxes, insurance and a mortgage or rent where politicians, banks and landlords can stuff their pockets with, you're called homeless and useless to them

[@pebetetete]

It will at some point, as the living standards fall. But is gona take a while

[@Lfs1891]

A home is considered when u pay taxes on it and have an address.

[@lauracook7608]

Reminds me of 'Hooverville' days of the early 1930s.

[@intheshell35ify]

Look at you making a valid point. Well done.

[@m_d_l_a3208]

Bidentopia

[@lauracook7608]

@@m_d_l_a3208 Good one!

[@melaniestarkey7868]

"No matter how hard evil tries, it can never quite match up to the power of Good, because evil is ultimately self-destructive.* Evil may set out to corrupt others, but in the process corrupts itself." What happened to our hearts America did we really think all this is the homeless people's fault.

[@purple.burglar.alarm...]

I have spent a good amount of time without a home. I found out fast how much NO ONE CARES. NO ONE.

[@countrygaming8367]

Why don’t you guys leave these people alone; yall act like your lives are so perfect! How about lending a helping hand if you want to get involved!❤️

[@Wildman-zh8lg]

How about you stop complaining and getting involved

[@reyrayo2502]

Wait till word gets out 😂😂😂

[@ebayerr]

....and the squatters move in.

[@haven_lady675]

It looks way cleaner than all other houses

[@user-tq5qu8sc5s]

As a 40 year old building engineer with nothing to my name to claim. This looks like my next best choice.

[@gaberoyalll]

Make it so it comes apart kinda easy incase u wanna move it 😊 best wishes for you my friend ! Hey and with these little solar battery set ups you'll be pretty comfortable

[@Angelfishworld]

Now you can make a better one than him then

[@Susanates-sz5te]

I hope these people don’t lose their place of living due to news coverage’s on this ! Leave them alone let them live in peace ☮️

[@jimmyevanski453]

I disagree, it's a Slap in the face for Obedient Tax Paying Citizens & Glorifying Utility Theft

[@RideRedRacer]

Stealing tax payers money and you're fine with that? You are the problem

[@Susanates-sz5te]

I am a OBEDIENT TAX PAYING CITIZEN you get to a point where the government screws us Americans over. Long as they stay by the river not in our towns and cities then idc

[@jackkawf4449]

​@@jimmyevanski453damn you little douche canoe, you're sure happy to be taken advantage of!

[@garystuyvesant5619]

How many officials drive bye this from City, County, Police , Fire, Water, Road , Departments every day and no one reported it till now

[@lynsylva-bb6ss]

This is how shantys start.

[@mactastic144]

If there was more affordable housing or housing stock that met demand, then it wouldn't have ended up this way.

[@sv4996]

Yep, Brazil style favela in the making.

[@zangzang1268]

@@mactastic144 Perhaps if there weren't 1000's of homeless/jobless pouring across our border every month it wouldn't have ended up this way either? Central/South America is exporting their poverty onto US taxpayers. Fact.

[@lynsylva-bb6ss]

@@mactastic144 Yep. But we can give billions of our money away.

[@hangarsacto]

I tapped into the base of the street light in front of my house. You can do it in the day time when the street lights are off. In the evenings, the city pays for my electricity. I encourage EVERYONE to do this.

[@marewaltwms1]

I feel you

[@sue.d.nymn69]

Leave them alone. Let them live! If anything, they're making the area safer & more beautiful. They aren't hurting anyone. Leave them alone.

[@timbrown8038]

Beats the heck out of a box and a tarp.

[@d.fenestrator9529]

Where is toilet? The water below? This behavior is common in Third World countries.

[@marewaltwms1]

This country and its greed and lack of empathy and caring definitely headed that way

[@Seimonster27]

America is the ONLY first world country that doesn't have universal healthcare. Because they don't care about us. Only their profit line. And they profit the most when we're sick. Plus added bonus, when we're too weak, sick, & tired we won't be able to fight back to do anything about it.

[@MrDerekMagnuson]

I mean, with the skyrocketing rent and mortgage payments (just flat out broken policies in this country that make it impossible to save money) this hardworking American patriot took the initiative and built their own house.

[@jmason61]

Loser outlook.... stop blaming the system & take responsibility

[@rosaspanjol673]

No property taxes?… I want a home like that!

[@darwincorrea5228]

There is no american dream you gotta built your own american dream😊😊😊😊

[@jessicawagers2321]

This guy has the right idea!!! Sad that someone snitched on him!!! Now the city will FORCE this guy to tear down his house!!! You know the saying about snitches!!

[@MrDerekMagnuson]

Shows how out of touch the "officials" of Highland Park are. This guy deserves a gold medal from the mayor for overcoming the housing crisis.

[@jmason61]

So how about people who go to work everyday & pay taxes?

[@dori3will]

That’s one way of dealing with the outrageous rent in Cali. No one bothers him but it’s now public. Believe me, the government is going to bother him

[@tl2813]

The only issue I see is sewage. Where are they doing their business.

[@Wazhadnin-wj5te]

Can you imagine if that man put the same time and effort into moving out of California and getting a decent job in a friendlier state?

[@marewaltwms1]

Wow that is a realistic goal for him. Let's cheer that on

[@sheldonhollis5258]

He doesn't want to live in a racist flyover state

[@chrisk7626]

I hate all these news stations for putting a bright light on this like this oh how cute it's illegal if this was the 80s this would have been out of here in 2 seconds. It's not cute I don't want to look at it get it the hell out of here now

[@Seimonster27]

Wow. Such compassion. Clearly you've never been homeless. Don't fall off your pedestal. You're not on as stable of ground as you think. Just a few unlucky moves and you could find yourself in a similar situation. If you lost your job and were suddenly overinundated with medical bills and other expenses, would you have enough savings to pay your rent for a few months or more while unemployed and recovering?

[@chrisk7626]

@@Seimonster27 I have been homeless I didn't have victimized anyone and I wasn't on drugs or alcohol

[@chrisk7626]

@@Seimonster27 what you don't know about me could fill a book. You were incorrect in every thought about me . PS I'm sitting in my own home paid for.

[@t.r.4496]

Wait till he gets a property tax bill? If you have any type of property they will find a way to tax it.

[@sonyajackson1222]

Someone will bless him with a job & a place. God is good!!

[@firstlast8258]

Gawd bless Murica 🤓 🖕

[@kristihackworth6855]

What a brilliant man!!😂❤ I wish him the best in life!!

[@stickynorth]

How dare he try to provide himself housing. The nerve!

[@LeilaniSolomon]

Here where I'm from Cape Town South Africa. We have thousands of people living in poverty in way worse conditions than them. Is not ideal but at least his got a place he can call home for now. May you find your space and place you dream of sir ❤

[@judierenfrow8073]

Unhoused????? Woke speech for homeless.

[@ge2623]

I call it "roof-deprived" or "non-housied"

[@AmyC37217]

Jesus Christ was homeless. Guess He's too Woke for Republicans, too!

[@MrDerekMagnuson]

This guy is my hero of the year. Housing is so expensive that this guy just went "Scr** it, I'll just build my own house."

[@jmason61]

Douche

[@ST-rj8iu]

Proof that most homeless people can and will work. Give him a job. He doesn't need funding.

[@marewaltwms1]

Well they would need to give him a job that pays him enough. The rent that people are charging is outrageous. People are working 2-3 jobs just to get by.

[@RaymondTorres.49ers]

This is crazy I just saw right now that in San Jose they are getting money for the homeless and when they went to go see the data they had nothing. San Jose had no data because they are not using all the money on the homeless. If you have a crisis the city can ask for funds to help battle the crisis but know one follows threw till it's to late. They need to give them the money and ask for receipts immediately and ask why is it not improving.

[@SammyL0k]

It’s completely insane how they are normalizing this

[@marewaltwms1]

It completely sad that is the situation is available to be normalized maybe he should become a horse

[@kidmac1514]

That’s not a disaster waiting to happen with boulders and wood and trash ready to roll into the freeway at any given time or first rain.

[@szsenyuk8887]

If an American citizen did this they would be fined, jailed for theft of electrical power and dumping human waste in the arroyo creek. What is so admirable about this that it gets praised? 😳

[@notsocrates9529]

Right on, now we get favelas, slums and barrios. Awesome! USA USA!

[@AmyC37217]

Unless they got court orders - no one is forced to stay in California. The other 49 states are amazing.

[@notsocrates9529]

@@AmyC37217 I am not a cosmopolitan who flees to a new host when the going gets tough. These people are invaders, running away to the other states is only delaying the inevitable.

[@someoneanonymous5895]

NARC...You think this is a great story to run, but you just started his eviction process. I currently can afford rent, but I would not mind living like this person so that I can more quickly save up and buy a place.

[@justicewillprevail1106]

It should be our right to be able to live in anything we build on this planet.

[@Jessicascleaningtips]

Build one for Newskum

[@joblow4827]

He’s gonna get his property tax bill in the mail now😅

[@KarenLee-bs5ms]

That looks pretty good to me well done give that man a job.. to be honest every single American is one paycheck away from being homeless.. I have to admit some of these people are getting very creative.. unfortunately the problem is going to get a lot worse it's not going to get any better..

[@pwu8194]

Homeless camp has a tendency to catch fire, and this will be no exception.

[@debrarisdon9250]

prayers,love and hugs

[@gypsybaby3196]

I don't know why you all air this. Now the city probably will harass this person!

[@Cubanguy1977]

And now he on the news so you already know the city gonna come out and ruin this guys life he aint hurting nobody just doing him

[@djhbr]

Beautiful custom house, located in LA River Palisades with view on the LA river, quiet environment (no neighbors yet) 2 bedrroms , 1 plein air kitchen/bbq patio with terrace, AC, TV, 5G internet, refrigerator, free access to the waterslide amusement park. 18 holes Mini golf (in construction) 3500usd + uitlities . 3months security deposit 1 affidavit SSN and 2023 tax return 3 last bank statements. No pet No MAGA No car or food truck (no parking). Se habla ingles.

[@debbiechiarolanza2787]

I feel like pretty soon , we may all be headed close to homelessness. This country is a shit show, it's really sad .

[@Seimonster27]

Why do u think they're pushing the tiny home trend so hard? Not because it's cute. They're trying to acclimate us into accepting our future. Space will be a luxury most wont be able to afford.

[@AmyC37217]

Turn the bube-toob off and the shit show goes away.

[@aliecarey]

Who is paying for his electricity?

[@jimmyevanski453]

Taxpayers, he's tied into the Streetlight pole, seen another Video a couple of days ago

[@harleyv1969]

Hard working man deserves what he made 💪

[@user-fy7ru4ii1i]

1. 0:15 - The prominent shadow behind Shayla, suggests she's staring in the direction of the sun...yet, she's not squinting. That's impressive. 2. 1:14 - At least one house has electricity? (Solar or grid? If grid...the city isn't going to like them tapping in...for free). 3. 1:47 - They're working urgently to find housing for these individuals?? Dude said he's been there for at least 4 years... 4. 1:59 - Mark Brown...Mark...Brown.

[@yvonnephillips3888]

Typical attitude. I'll do only what I want to and wherever and whenever I want to. If there is no water where does he take a dump. That's right in outside.

[@gayleweatherford7517]

Possibly 💩 poops on the freeway......😮😮😮 LoL

[@djhbr]

And no parking for the guest. What a shame....

[@professorprofessorson8795]

Good for him!

[@AjsKrysMomma]

No electricity: solar power solar panels, building materials, free from a house being torn down, we built houses to live in

[@lemondropkid6175]

food bank, no rent, no speak english - where is this again?

[@ge2623]

Helsinki Finland.

[@bsfishing7073]

I have a feeling that someone is going to vandalize it when they are gone to work someday I just hope I’m wrong but when people are motivated by angry then anything is possible I’m glad to see people who are happy

[@stephanieinthewild2678]

What a great way to get free property. Im going to have a tiny home built near here. ✌️

[@Shell2014]

Stealing land that doesn’t belong to you.. he likes it because no one bothers him.. he needs to tell all his transient friends, hard working people do not like to be bothered and have to pay for their things as well…

[@dr.strangelove5708]

I am sure Native Americans would like a word about the stealing of land

[@FlavaDave1976]

FuckN Live Bro You might be on your own but If You're ever so talented create Yourself a home for Yourselves

[@fulljuggaloalbumz2691]

Rent, gentrification are the issue here

[@calliepieters3446]

Bathroom ? Septic ? Health Hazard !! tear it down !!

[@Seimonster27]

So you'd rather he shit on the sidewalks when you kick him to the streets?

[@mattfontana]

​@@Seimonster27 6👣⬇

[@gayleweatherford7517]

Maybe he poops on the freeway...😮😮😮

[@steveh5882]

gig's up.

[@TheBeeOBee]

Don't mess with this guy....c'mon abc7

[@DT__1]

Let’s hope the guy will expand and start renting 😊 magnificent guy

[@intheshell35ify]

I can smell Shayla's uppity from here.

[@DoyleTheExplorer]

The new world baby homelessness is similar to grabbing a coffee

[@zhihangzhou7141]

This is the wild west supposed to look like. You work hard and you have a place to live🎉

[@jamesfowler1955]

Quit feeding the animals.

[@docouchi7929]

They should go to Long Beach bicycle route it’s filled with little houses, a little town of homeless … also in trains and buses they stay there all day …

[@TropicalPassionFruit]

Shayla, sorry you got stuck going to Highland Park to cover this story.

[@jeremys5904]

ABC7 needs to report how the homeless probelm could be completely solved if the government didnt give our money to ukraine and israhell.

[@remipelletier9033]

Wow , that’s the no 1 country in the world ???

[@jaimeponce7951]

Tell him he needs to pay taxes

[@winkieblink7625]

Finding housing for those w/ little to no income. Bless them.

[@righteousbyfaithinChrist]

Everyone doing what they can to male a positive difference.

[@christinamartinez1609]

This dude created a crib on a random spot 😂

[@zoeemiko8149]

We have a batter place for you to live - leads the man to a homeless shelter & tears down his comfortable home. Thanks ABC7 for snitching on him & making such a fuss. Now he'll be not just homeless but houseless.

[@Orthodoxoffgrid]

And they reached out to the mayors for finding people with real freedom

[@Glen-md1ir]

Building materials courtesy of "Homeless Depot".

[@firsttenor76]

We should have a government intervention opt out option --- Don't need any of your services, I'll do everything on my own, generate my own electricity, get my own water, etc. Leave me alone, don't help me, I don't pay you taxes. Sounds viable. You just can't do it on any government owned property.

[@Seimonster27]

You can it's called being a hermit.

[@garyhull5617]

Sewer?

[@toadwar9300]

"LET IT BE... LET IT BE... WHISPER WORDS OF WISDOM LET IT BEEEEE!!!!!!!

[@jmason61]

Stupid hippie crap

[@Badassstang69]

So how much taxes are you gonna be charged because obviously he has to pay taxes for that is he stealing water? Is he still in electricity? What’s going on there? I know I have to pay my taxes. He’s got his own home right there. He needs to pay taxes also

[@marewaltwms1]

He's probably homeless because of property taxes, HOAs and now lives in a shanty makeshift house and where tons of people's judgemental shit lands.

[@lanabyk8012]

People are living like rats... Which is not so bad. After all, rats have survived for millions of years!

[@stevenrodriguez3891]

Shayla 👀

[@nuryalvarenga5527]

What happened with 24 billions that they had to fixt that problem?

[@BuhodePiedra]

So how about let us normal younger folks build on raw land without over $100k in permits and fees?