I've Seen People Turn Garbage Into Some Cool Stuff. But THIS Is Absolute Brilliance! -->
Sometimes you win, sometimes you learn.

I've Seen People Turn Garbage Into Some Cool Stuff. But THIS Is Absolute Brilliance!

Gregory Kloehn goes dumpster diving, but not for the reason that most people would think. He isn't homeless. In fact, he is an artist from Oakland that is trying to help the homeless and develop his craft at the same time. Instead of building sculptures that he would sell to rich people to add to their massive homes, he decided to focus his efforts on helping house the homeless population in California.



Gregory digs through illegally dumped trash and goes dumpster diving.

He uses what he collects to build small, one room shelters for the homeless.

I've Seen People Turn Garbage Into Some Cool Stuff. But THIS…. This Is Absolute Brilliance.

And his homelessness project is getting attention.

I've Seen People Turn Garbage Into Some Cool Stuff. But THIS…. This Is Absolute Brilliance.

Not only from the media, but from the people he helps as well.

I've Seen People Turn Garbage Into Some Cool Stuff. But THIS…. This Is Absolute Brilliance.

The “little homeless homes” are about the size of the sofa.

I've Seen People Turn Garbage Into Some Cool Stuff. But THIS…. This Is Absolute Brilliance.

But, something that small can mean the world to someone living on the streets.

I've Seen People Turn Garbage Into Some Cool Stuff. But THIS…. This Is Absolute Brilliance.

Each of the homes are built with a pitched roof, so rain will run right off of them.

I've Seen People Turn Garbage Into Some Cool Stuff. But THIS…. This Is Absolute Brilliance.

They also have wheels, so their owners will be able to wheel them around if they need to.

I've Seen People Turn Garbage Into Some Cool Stuff. But THIS…. This Is Absolute Brilliance.

The foundation he usually uses are discarded wooden pallets.

I've Seen People Turn Garbage Into Some Cool Stuff. But THIS…. This Is Absolute Brilliance.

At first, as an artist, he made sculptures.

I've Seen People Turn Garbage Into Some Cool Stuff. But THIS…. This Is Absolute Brilliance.

But peddling his creations got old.

I've Seen People Turn Garbage Into Some Cool Stuff. But THIS…. This Is Absolute Brilliance.

Since he focused on housing, Gregory knows what he creates is being used.

I've Seen People Turn Garbage Into Some Cool Stuff. But THIS…. This Is Absolute Brilliance.

A homeless woman he knows well, Wonder, raves about what he does.

I've Seen People Turn Garbage Into Some Cool Stuff. But THIS…. This Is Absolute Brilliance.

The small shelter Gregory built for her was the best house she's had in 5 years.

I've Seen People Turn Garbage Into Some Cool Stuff. But THIS…. This Is Absolute Brilliance.

He published a book titled “Homeless Architecture.”

I've Seen People Turn Garbage Into Some Cool Stuff. But THIS…. This Is Absolute Brilliance.

His focus seems to be on helping them build homes…

I've Seen People Turn Garbage Into Some Cool Stuff. But THIS…. This Is Absolute Brilliance.

Even when they don't have a conventional “house” to work with.

I've Seen People Turn Garbage Into Some Cool Stuff. But THIS…. This Is Absolute Brilliance.

At first he was just building tiny homes to sell.

I've Seen People Turn Garbage Into Some Cool Stuff. But THIS…. This Is Absolute Brilliance.

One day, a homeless man came by his studio asking for a tarp.

I've Seen People Turn Garbage Into Some Cool Stuff. But THIS…. This Is Absolute Brilliance.

All Gregory had was a tiny wooden frame he was working on, equipped with a built-in kitchen, water tank and a small trap for human waste.

I've Seen People Turn Garbage Into Some Cool Stuff. But THIS…. This Is Absolute Brilliance.

He then realized… it was a home that this man could use.

I've Seen People Turn Garbage Into Some Cool Stuff. But THIS…. This Is Absolute Brilliance.

Someone could use it and it would change their life.

I've Seen People Turn Garbage Into Some Cool Stuff. But THIS…. This Is Absolute Brilliance.

He can't build houses for all of Oakland's homeless.

I've Seen People Turn Garbage Into Some Cool Stuff. But THIS…. This Is Absolute Brilliance.

However, he doesn't intend to stop building any time soon.

I've Seen People Turn Garbage Into Some Cool Stuff. But THIS…. This Is Absolute Brilliance.

He's thought about starting classes, teaching others how to make them. “A lot of people who hear about what I'm doing want to get involved,” he said. “Maybe we meet someplace and put a couple homes together.”

I've Seen People Turn Garbage Into Some Cool Stuff. But THIS…. This Is Absolute Brilliance.

Image Credits: Gregory Kloehn

This artist uses trash to change people's lives. It's absolutely brilliant. If more people could learn how to create these tiny homes for others, the impact could be huge. Strangers have come forward on his Facebook page to donate money to what Gregory is doing.

Please share this amazing initiative. This is the kind of idea that should catch on. People's lives could be changed forever.

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