We may not have the power to save everyone, but that doesn’t mean we can’t help them in the best way we can.
View this post on Instagram
Hope and Manny live their best lives in a van. They are part of a growing number of people who opted for a nomadic lifestyle and enjoy the flexibility offered by a tiny house.
Hope and Manny met Darrell in the streets of South Utah.
Darrell is just one of many African Americans who are struggling to make ends meet and put a roof over their heads.
According to the latest numbers, Darrell’s demographic is heavily affected by the growing inaccessibility of housing.
Single adults make up almost the majority of people experiencing homelessness in Utah.
Moreover, while African-Americans only account for 1% of the entire state’s population, they represent 10% of those in the state’s care system.
Males are also more likely to experience homelessness as they make up 57% of that number. The odds are stacked against Darrell, but that didn’t deter him from pushing through life.
To help him out, Hope and Manny built him a shelter he could bring with him wherever he went.
Manny said in the video that they were planning on building him a shelter that could withstand Utah’s extremely fickle temperatures.
They started their project by gluing waterproof poly board to an inch of insulation material. This will greatly help in regulating the temperature inside the tiny house.
Then, they made the house frame using 2x3s and 2x2s to make it sturdy but lightweight.
The floor space is around 3 feet wide and 6 feet long. It’s a bit cramped but it’s an ideal measurement for a tiny home that can be pushed around or towed to another location.
Next, they installed the walls and the wheels to the base frame. They also placed rafters so they could install a proper roofing system. It can keep the rain away and gives a bit more head space for Darrell.
They also cut small holes in both walls for ventilation holes. To increase safety, they also added reflectors so cards can see the tiny home at night.
The tiny house also has an electrical system.
Manny’s system is comprised of three main parts. First, he installed a solar panel on the roof. He then connected it to a lithium-ion battery system and an inverter so the power collected could be usable.
This can help Darrell charge his phone, power a lighting system, and maybe a small fan. The tiny house might not look a lot for some, but for others, it is a warm shelter and a private space.
People all over the internet expressed their appreciation.
“This is wonderful, made me cry! To think, there are still people out there with such a big heart to help others out.” Said one.
View this post on Instagram
Others also mentioned adding a few more features like a braking system for the wheels and a way for Darrell to see outside. But all in all, they were just thankful that there still are people who are willing to help out those who need it the most.
Watch this couple’s tiny house built for a homeless person they met.
Please SHARE this with your friends and family.
