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A pair of self-described TikTok entrepreneurs who are homeless in Lansdale have recently gone viral on TikTok, leading to features in the New York Post, the Daily Mail, and elsewhere. But with that newfound attention, allegations have surfaced that they may not be as "in-need” as they appear, with one local good Samaritan claiming the couple is taking donations for their survival while sitting on thousands of dollars in a GoFundMe account.
Most recently, Leland Brown Jr. and Breanna Hubbard were being sheltered at the local Holiday Inn, thanks to the aid of Linda Rowland and Sandra Salveter, who used a combination of their own money and community donations to find temporary housing for the couple.
The couple, who also share their tent-living life on YouTube, recently gained millions of views for sharing their experience of living in a storage unit on Church Road in Upper Gwynedd — just down the street from their tent at Stony Creek Park — as a cost-effective alternative to an apartment.
"I live in a storage unit because it’s cheap in comparison to an apartment,” said Brown in the original TikTok video. "I can exercise, I can use the bathroom, I can play music anywhere, and it is climate controlled in here so it’s nice and warm. It’s 24 hours, so I can come here anytime I want. We can take naps if we need to and go to sleep. This is our living space; we are very, very grateful to have this space.”
They showcased the amenities of their storage unit, including an exercise area, bathroom access, music, and climate control. They even cooked food outdoors next to an entrance. The video showed Hubbard sleeping on a day bed in a makeshift room with wardrobe and bureaus behind a stack of boxes, hidden from view.
But living in a storage unit is illegal under various local and federal housing laws, which led to their recent eviction from the facility. Once management got word of Brown and Hubbard’s illegal abode, they were evicted, which was also shared on TikTok and covered by CBS3 News.
Brown said he understood the risk in recording and posting the TikTok video, adding there was "a fine line between legality and lease terms.”
"When you asked why I recorded a video in a storage unit, knowing it might be against the rules, and if it was solely for views — well, I had already gained popularity from previous content,” Brown told North Penn Now, via text message. "Being a social media influencer and content creator is my true passion. Living in a storage unit added an exhilarating twist to my life, and I couldn’t resist sharing it with the world.”
Brown said losing the storage unit was the worst-case scenario.
"I saw it as a steppingstone to potentially gaining enough fame to afford my own RV. So yes, I did it for views and money, but the underlying reason was the genuine need to improve our living situation,” he said. "My girlfriend and I were in a tent, and the storage unit offered a practical solution right next to our temporary home.”
From that point, it was back to the woods — but only briefly. After the couple’s tent was damaged by recent snowfall, Rowland and Salveter offered to replace the tent and pay for the couple to stay at Holiday Inn.
"Linda generously offered a hotel without inquiring about my savings, recognizing my homelessness,” Brown said. "I accepted due to the challenging conditions in the woods, exacerbated by inclement weather at the time.”
Meanwhile, as their hotel room and necessities were being covered — and unbeknownst to Rowland and Salveter — the couple were raking in thousands of dollars in donations from their personal GoFundMe. As of Monday morning, the GoFundMe had raised $3,915 for Brown and Hubbard.
"It’s essential to clarify that while the hotel wasn’t a necessity, I am resolute in enduring discomfort for the sake of my long-term objectives (of getting an RV and then a small home),” Brown said.
Rowland said she has been dealing with and assisting Brown and Hubbard for two years, having met them through her outreach to the homeless community.
"They called me one night for help. I helped them out of pocket. They told me they had a hole in their tent from a raccoon. I gave them a new tent,” Rowland said. "Then, they called again. They were cold, they had no money and no food. I decided to use the money donated to [our] GoFundMe and go out and get them a new tent.”
Rowland and Salveter found them a tent and got them sheltered at Holiday Inn. She also gave them a $125 gift card for necessities, she said.
"Then, I see their GoFundMe is at $3,000. Last year, they had $125 in there. Since ours came out, all of a sudden, theirs took off,” Rowland said. "I said, ‘This is unreal. They are doing TikTok videos.’ I said to Leland, ‘Why didn’t you tell me you had $3,000?’ And he said, ‘That’s our money, we’re young entrepreneurs.’ And I said, ‘So you just live off of us?’ and he said, ‘Yes.’”
Rowland alleged that Brown refused to use his money to cover their hotel and upgrade their living situation, adding he also refused to reimburse her for the funds used for the hotel and tent. In the interview with North Penn Now, Brown confirmed that he refused to use his own money to pay for the hotel and the tent.
"I am steadfast in my decision not to utilize my GoFundMe funds for a hotel, as these funds are earmarked for a specific financial goal,” Brown said, later adding that he had made $700 as a creator on TikTok and was expecting another $6,000 in February. "My commitment lies in financial responsibility, focusing solely on daily necessities to propel myself to the next level in the long term.”
Rowland provided text messages to North Penn Now of her conversations with Brown and Hubbard, adding she was angry as the money used for Brown and Hubbard could have been better used on someone who didn’t have thousands of dollars in an account.
"They conned me out of going to a hotel,” Rowland said.
Brown and Hubbard are now back in the woods and out of the hotel. While they are determined to find an RV one day, for now, they will revel in their newfound fame. Brown will be getting as much out of his 15 minutes as he can.
"My aspirations are ambitious, reaching for the stars in pursuit of the best life possible, lived to the fullest,” Brown said. "While a tiny home is the ultimate goal, an RV serves as a practical alternative, prioritizing my son’s need for my presence.”
"Who can we call next?” said Hubbard in a TikTok. "We’re also going to be making a lot of money moves.”
Editor's note: this article was updated at 3:01 p.m. to reflect comments from Brown regarding income received through TikTok's Creator Fund.
See also:
Two Area Residents Team Up to Aid Homeless in Lansdale
Lansdale Police Continue Discussions on Addressing Homelessness with Eyes on Federal Court Case
Lansdale Police Working to Address Homelessness in Local Area
Montgomery County Releases 2023 Point-In-Time Homeless Count Data
