In a poignant tale of resilience and tragedy, Benito Flores, a 70-year-old retired welder, made the heart-wrenching decision to confront his eviction from a state-owned home, fully aware that it might cost him his life. For Flores, the prospect of being homeless again was too much to bear, as he had already endured 14 years of living in a van.
In March 2020, he seized a vacant, publicly-owned property in El Sereno, alongside a group of like-minded individuals who called themselves “Reclaiming Our Homes.” They defended their actions, claiming the true crime lay not in occupying empty houses, but in the neglect of properties acquired by the California Department of Transportation for a failed freeway expansion while thousands of residents in Los Angeles found themselves without shelter.
This grassroots movement attracted national attention, leading to a temporary allowance from the state for the group to remain in the properties. As time passed, many members of the group either accepted settlements to vacate or were forced out by Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies. However, Flores took extraordinary measures to protect his newfound home, constructing a 6-foot by 3-foot tree house, positioned 28 feet high in the backyard, as a refuge in case of an eviction.
The risks of his resistance to eviction were apparent to Flores. In a July 4 letter to an L.A. County Superior Court judge, he highlighted his dire health conditions, including uncontrolled diabetes and foot sores, stating, “I am a strong candidate to die on the street alone and forgotten. That is why I choose to die here defending my house.”
Flores’s steadfast spirit paid off when, six weeks prior to his tragic fall, he and his supporters successfully chased off deputies aiming to evict him without him having to resort to barricading himself in his tree house.
Following his accomplishment, Flores fortified his positions further by attaching ladders to a second tree, creating a protective network above him. However, tragedy struck last week when Flores reportedly fell from the tree. A neighbor discovered his body on Friday afternoon, his safety harness broken and remnants tangled in the branches above. Paramedics at the scene confirmed his death.
Authorities have expressed their belief that Flores’s death did not need to occur, asserting that they made multiple efforts to find him a suitable place to live. Officials from the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles stated that Flores had been offered a cash settlement up to $20,000, a Section 8 voucher, and over two dozen referrals for other housing options. Yet, Flores found these solutions insufficient for securing permanent housing at a price he could afford on his limited Social Security and disability benefits.
Flores believed he qualified for the home where he built his tree house since it was slated for sale to a nonprofit that would enable a low-income resident to reside there. In his view, vacating the property was unnecessary.
“Benito was the heart and soul of our movement,” said Roberto Flores, who operates a community center in El Sereno and played a role in organizing protests over the past five years. He referred to Benito as a martyr for the cause of housing and human rights.
Originally from Monterrey, Mexico, Benito Flores immigrated to the United States in the late 1980s and later became a citizen. He worked in construction which often required him to climb to great heights. As he aged and job opportunities dwindled, he resorted to living in his van parked on a narrow street in El Sereno.
Soon after his death was discovered, local activists gathered to hold a vigil at the site of his makeshift home. Initially, his body remained covered with a sheet in the backyard, awaiting the arrival of the medical examiner, while mourners paid tribute to his legacy.
The vigil, attended by around 50 mourners, featured an Indigenous ceremony. Participants sang, recited prayers, played drums, and lit ceremonial copal and cedar, the fragrant smoke enveloping Flores’ lifeless body. Attendees left flowers atop the sheet that covered him, mourning a loss felt deeply within their community.
Gerardo Santos, a fellow activist, remarked on Flores’s commitment, stating, “We’re seeing a loss, something that’s very hurtful and painful. And then we’re also seeing someone who died for what they believe in.”
Once the medical examiner arrived, the ceremony shifted to the front of the house where son jarocho folk musicians played in Flores’ honor. A sidewalk altar was set up displaying candles and a photo of Flores smiling up in the tree. However, the presence of about a dozen Los Angeles Police Department officers caused tension among the mourners, with many frustrated as they felt they were simply there to pay their respects. LAPD Sgt. David Azevedo explained their presence was a precaution due to the gathering size at the request of medical personnel.
Among the remaining Reclaimers, some accepted the housing authority’s assistance and found permanent low-income living arrangements. Others, however, faced lockouts after declining offers, including two who shared Flores’s fate. Not long after an earlier eviction attempt on Flores, government officials approached him presenting one last proposal—four years of free rent in an El Sereno apartment.
Flores contemplated this offer, sharing in what many believe was his final interview with a San Gabriel Valley podcaster on July 15. Despite the alluring prospect, he ultimately declined. His rationale stemmed from a deep sense of solidarity; he questioned why he should accept a deal that left his fellow Reclaimers without similar options. Furthermore, he expressed concern over what would happen to him after the four years, fearing potential homelessness would only be a greater burden.
Flores himself had previously experienced an accident while climbing, involving a pulley system failure that resulted in a fall of four feet. He reflected on how much worse it would be to face similar risks at greater heights. “My life is at risk,” he told the podcaster. “I ask myself, why? Why am I climbing trees? I should be in a house, enjoying my retirement — playing dominoes or whatever things a retired person does.”
Yet, his determination remained resolute. Flores fervently believed the state held a responsibility to provide housing for the homeless, the elderly, the disabled, and families with children. He asserted that efforts to evict him and his fellow Reclaimers contradicted this principle. “That is why I am fighting,” he emphasized.
Ultimately, Benito Flores’s life and untimely death have become symbolic of the struggle for housing rights and recognition of the human dignity held by every individual. His legacy lives on among those who fight for justice and equity within a society that too often overlooks the most vulnerable.
image source from：latimes
