Summary:

Authorities ordered the removal of a solar-powered tent community for homeless in Whittier after they deemed they were illegal and the man behind them was offering them for rent on Craigslist for $400 a month.

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Main Article:

He said he was just trying to help, but the City of Whittier, near Los Angeles, says he was just trying to make a profit.

A man who set up tents for the homeless in Whittier complete with Wi-Fi and solar panels was ordered to remove them after the City deemed it was a way for him to make money after a Craigslist ad was marketing them for $400 a month. 

The ad also indicated biweekly rates were available starting at $200.

The manager of the tents, set up on the greenbelt next to busy Whittier Boulevard, said he is not moving them even though the state ordered he pack up by Thursday.

"In the morning, we open them up, and they can charge their phone. There's a place to sit down in there and get some water," Mark Gutierrez said.

Gutierrez said his tents are providing a service to the homeless. He provides power via solar panels, and Wi-Fi. 

The Craigslist ad  – which has since been taken down – pictured what Gregory Williams says is a tent that is merely a solar-powered charging station, not a temporary housing solution. “It can charge up to 100 cell phones, it can also provide WiFi for up to 15 devices,” Williams said. “I offered it here for free for everyone to use.”

But the California Highway Patrol sees it as a safety issue, due to the proximity to fast-traveling traffic on the boulevard. 

CalTrans also owns the land, and jointly with the CHP ordered Gutierrez to remove them. The mayor of Whittier, Joe Vinatieri, and another council member expressed outrage on social media after discovering the ad.

Gutierrez however says the order to vacate isn't valid, and he claims he never put up the Craigslist ad, which has since been taken down. 

The city said it's clear the intent was to rent out the tents for profit, though Gutierrez denies this. 

"I think this is someone who was taking advantage of a situation for their own profit. My family and I provide some assistance to homeless in different ways, but we definitely do not do it for our own profit," said councilwoman Cathy Warner.

The city said it's working with the homeless people who've set up other tents next to Gutierrez's, and those will be relocated.

Williams says the tents were set up as a demo for other cities with high homeless populations.

“I have a GoFundMe page that I’m trying to get out there and get word that I have these solar charging stations and I want to put in all high traffic areas so that people can use for free,” he said.