Homeless no more

This story is a follow-up to a story I wrote last week about a homeless man who returned a purse with nearly $1,000 inside to a Rancho Cucamonga woman. Due to a bit of a mix-up, I wrote up this follow-up, having missed (along with the editor who green-lit the story) that the Jane-on-the-spot Beatriz Valenzuela already did one on Sunday. (The story did not get posted to the Daily Press’ Web site.)

So here, for posterity’s sake, and so that people can know what finally happened with Chris, is the rest of the story:

Homeless no more
Victorville homeless man who returned purse with almost $1,000 in cash has apartment, has received job offers

By BEAU YARBROUGH
Staff Writer

Last Tuesday, Chris was homeless and out of work. Then he found a purse full of money on Amargosa Road and his life changed.

Chris pulled out the cell phone from inside the purse and was able to get the purse, with almost $1,000 inside, back to its owner. The Daily Press reported on his decision, the Associated Press ran the story statewide and the telephones at the High Desert Homeless Services shelter started ringing.

“The day the story came out in the paper, the phone was ringing off the hook here,� Chris said Wednesday. “Up until 3 o’clock, the phones were just ringing off the hook. Jobs, good jobs, ‘I’m going to send you some money.’ I’ve had over $600 in donations.�

His biggest issue now is renting a truck to move into his new apartment on Friday.

“I didn’t want any reward. I didn’t expect all of this. It’s been very blessing and very nerve-wracking at the same time.�

With his photo splashed on the front page of the August 1 issue of the Daily Press, he became something of a celebrity.

“My wife and I went to Taco Bell and I got chased through the parking lot,� Chris said. He’s a private person normally, and did not want his last name published in the newspaper. “I was walking through a parking lot and a car pulled up and they said ‘hey, come here, Chris.’ I didn’t know who they were and they gave me $40.�

He’s also received several informal job offers, although some of them have been in Barstow, too far away for someone who doesn’t drive, and hasn’t been given a formal job offer closer to home yet, but Chris isn’t complaining.

“I feel very blessed and embarrassed at the same time. I’m ready for some peace and quiet now.�
His story has helped illustrate something High Desert Homeless Services director Susie Hollenbeck has said for a long time.

“I’ve been trying to tell people for years that their idea of a homeless person in their mind is the person who’s on the street who’s dirty and maybe drug-addicted,� Hollenbeck said. “That style, and maybe the mentally handicapped homeless, is only about 20 person of the homeless population. The ordinary people who are just like you and me are the majority. We have really decent people who stay in our shelter. They’re just down on their luck.�

“Everybody’s calling me a hero, and I don’t feel like a hero. I just returned someone’s money,� Chris said. “There are people out there who do good things every day and they don’t get the attention I got.�

For more information on High Desert Homeless Services, call 245-5991 or visit HighDesertHomelessServices.com.

Beau Yarbrough can be reached at 956-7108 or at beau@hesperiastar.com.

1 Comment »

1. I am so happy to hear there are people like him out there. Its so rear to see some one returning things they see. I had my purse stolen with 400.00 dollars which was my rent money. I lost my purse in the flea market and i reported it, but no one returned it. i was so sad. When i find things that don’t belong to be i send to the police station. I never take anything thats not mine. I just wished that the person who stoled it will regraded and return it,but i guess they wont. Well the only thing i say what ever comes around goes around. and people who do good deed will always get a good reward maybe not now but later. Just see and wait. Just like Chris got his reward.

   Comment by Marisol — August 10, 2008 @ 12:38

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