Homeless Man Rebuilds Tree House After City Demolishes It

Los Angeles – All he wanted was a life among the trees, but it seems the city had other plans.

Following the viral attention received by Lux Hobo Hideaway on TikTok, officials demolished a three-story tree house that captured the hearts of many last month.

A week ago, the city finally issued a demolition order and took down this makeshift home.

Despite this setback, a man named Eric, who constructed his shelter from reclaimed materials in southern Los Angeles, is already working on a new version—Tree House 2.0.

“It was bound to happen. They were definitely going to take it,” Eric shared with reporters on Monday.

Speaking from a simple, open canvas shed on the ground, he reminisced about his previous home, which featured two levels, an enclosed bedroom, and even a zip line for quick escapes.

He mentioned how tourists and curious onlookers, intrigued by his viral video, are expected to visit his new spot, which he has dubbed the Swiss Hobo Robinson residence.

Eric continued building despite the city’s actions, which also included clearing out nearby tents and trailers used by other homeless individuals.

Los Angeles has been engaged in an ongoing battle against homeless encampments, a situation that intensified after the governor urged cities to enforce bans.

However, Eric’s experience highlights that these makeshift communities often re-emerge, especially when residents are reluctant to seek shelter.

He has already set up a framework and floorboards for his next shelter, aiming for features like trampoline nets and camouflaged walls to blend in.

“I want to create an exhaust seat,” Eric explained, playfully demonstrating how he envisions a secret escape hatch.

This marks the fourth tree house he has constructed since he began living on the streets ten years ago.

Eric indicated that his elevated living quarters provide better protection from theft and violence than ground-level shelters, which are common in encampments throughout the city.

Mostly, though, he enjoys the process of building tree houses.

“I got bored… and I just love to create them,” he admitted.

Maria Alvarado, a local resident, noted that Eric isn’t a nuisance in the trees, even as she expressed concerns about the broader encampment nearby.

As a mother of two, she addressed the unsightly trash and needles sometimes found around the camp. While city clean-ups are frequent, the problems tend to resurface quickly.

Alvarado seems to empathize with Eric, saying, “He doesn’t bother anyone. He’s just in his own little world.”

However, not everyone shares her view. A local business owner complained about an increasing number of incidents involving theft and harassment from the homeless community, pointing fingers at Eric.

“They took two of my gate openers worth $8,000 each. I know he was involved,” the business owner stated, gesturing toward Eric’s former tree.

In his defense, Eric pointed out that he gets by collecting and selling recyclables, insisting he hasn’t stolen anything. He also expressed a clear preference for treetop living over city shelters.

“I’m not trying to make this inconvenient for the city. It’s just how I prefer to live,” he clarified.

In May, Governor Gavin Newsom announced new incentives for cities to ban street camps as part of a larger initiative aimed at addressing homelessness.

Meanwhile, Mayor Karen Bass has argued that substantial measures are being implemented to tackle the issue, citing a recent reduction in homelessness rates that marks a significant change.

Nonetheless, a recent survey indicated that many residents believe the homelessness crisis in the city remains static or even worsens, placing additional pressure on Mayor Bass.

Eric, undeterred, committed to continuing his tree house projects. “People have built treehouses for ages. I’m just keeping the tradition alive,” he said with a hint of pride.