It’s rare for people to bother to understand a homeless person and find out why they’re on the streets.
However, one man in Los Angeles took the time to learn the story of a homeless woman who slept outside his home and did something incredible to assist her.
Irene “Smokie” McGee became homeless after losing her house when her husband passed away a decade ago. She survived by collecting recyclables and selling them for food while spending her nights on the streets.
A resident of an apartment building she frequently slept in front of befriended her and learned her story, and expressed his concern for her situation.
“She’s a human being, a 60-year-old mother and grandmother sleeping in the dirt, it’s just not right,” said resident Elvis Summers.
Elvis and Irene became pals and Elvis couldn’t bear to see Irene sleeping outside every night. He decided to assist her by constructing a house for her.
Elvis bought $500 worth of wood and got a local company to donate siding and roofing. With his construction knowledge, he built Irene a safe and comfortable home. His aim was to provide her with a secure and warm shelter. In just five days, Irene was finally able to sleep under a roof.
“I just wanted to build something safe enough and secure enough so she’d be warm and comfortable.”
Irene expressed how wonderful she felt after spending her first night in her new tiny home. She was very calm and relaxed and she believed she slept for almost half of the day.
Elvis is an inspiration and we should share his story to motivate others to assist those in need. Let’s work towards helping those who are less fortunate than us.
