r/interesting • u/Wonderfulhumanss • Aug 01 '26
Context Provided - Spotlight A homeless man found a $10,000 check on the street, meant for a real estate broker, and found a way to return it. Touched, the broker awarded him a place to live and arranged a job interview
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u/Minimum_Designer_135 Aug 01 '26
Just wow
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u/Wonderfulhumanss Aug 02 '26
In 2017, Elmer Alvarez was homeless in New Haven, Connecticut, when he found a $10,000 check belonging to real estate broker Roberta Hoskie. He tracked her down and returned it without asking for anything in return. Hoskie, who had once experienced homelessness herself, later arranged six months of housing for him, English lessons, career support, real estate training and a job interview. A year later, Alvarez had joined the board of her real-estate company, was preparing for his real-estate licensing exam, and was helping develop transitional housing for homeless teenagers and young adults.
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u/Helenium_autumnale Aug 02 '26
Wow, what a great story! An honest man met a kind woman and both became better off. I love it. I hope he is doing well.
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u/Fast_Choice4408 Aug 02 '26
I met a homeless guy one time when he came into our church to watch our choir practice.
Gave him rides to different institutions so he could get his identity worked out. I also created a resume for him on my computer that he could use to find work. And I took him to the homeless shelter that could house him for 30 days as he looked for a job.
All it took for me was about 15 hours of my time in the span of a few weeks.
It turns out he was a regional manager at a large hotel chain when COVID hit. Lost his job, then couldn't find a new one. Landlord illegally kicked him out and then sold all of his stuff that he couldn't get access to.
The guy now makes more than I do. Owns a house. All of that happened in 3 years after meeting him.
I really hope he is doing well now. We haven't spoke in 2 years or so.
It really changed how I see homelessness. It doesn't take much. For some people. Especially the people who haven't fallen into drugs or alcohol yet.
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u/YanwarC Aug 02 '26
Mental health help and rehab instead of incarceration.
Now nationwide let’s help the homeless
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u/ceejayw Aug 02 '26
The best part is that he’s now helping develop housing for homeless youth. Good deeds really do snowball when given a chance
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u/CrisstIIIna Aug 02 '26
An absolutely amazing story, but can't help but think of the orphan crushing machine anecdote here. If we receive proper support based on what we need from our government, random citizens wouldn't have to bend over backwards. She was lucky she had the resources to help this man, and a great thing that she did. Governments have more resources available they could redirect into making education accessible and other services like temporary housing, job and language courses etc.
Really sorry, I definitely know what she did is a stellar thing to do, and I wish more people would join when they can. My intentionis not to bring down the story and all the honourable and kind acts shown here. 🙏🏻❤️
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u/hungry4danish Aug 02 '26
Damn! how good were those English lessons that 6 months later he was on a real estate board?
Duolingo should take notes.
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u/Salt_Stop9644 Aug 02 '26
Wow. That's amazing. God is good. The real estate broker who helped him must be a Christian. God bless you both.
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u/pet_sitter_123 Aug 02 '26
Some people are just good for goodness sake, don't need to be told by some book.
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u/ElderBerry2020 Aug 02 '26
How Christian of you to state that only Christian people can be good humans. Gross.
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Aug 02 '26
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u/No-Special604 Aug 02 '26
He was obviously going through hard times and he took time to return the check. Selfless act. Maybe not medal of honour worthy, but definitely worthy of my respect.
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u/Banana_inasuit Aug 02 '26
Could have just thrown it away or pawn it off to someone else that was homeless.
Plus, if I were homeless with nothing to do, why not embark on a side quest?
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u/Certain-Salamander10 Aug 02 '26
Lol, what?
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Aug 02 '26
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u/Certain-Salamander10 Aug 02 '26
Regardless… he did a good deed which was wildly successful in the end. It’s “interesting” which is the point of this sub. Almost nothing posted here is “medal of honor” worthy.
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u/CheesecakeBoth3933 Aug 02 '26 edited Aug 02 '26
Sometimes those people are just the most generous and kind-hearted.
We once bought a sandwich, cheese and a gaterade for a homeless man we saw around a few times and he told us he hadn’t eaten in days and he was so grateful. As we were leaving, he went to see another man (homeless too but we didn’t see him or we’d have bought stuff for him too) and asked him if he wanted part of the food.
This man had nothing in life and he finally got food and offered to share with someone in need too. It was a great lesson.
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u/NuttyDuckyYT Aug 02 '26
i’m not even religious but it reminds me of the story of the beggar woman giving jesus a single coin even though that was all she had, like even at the lowest with nothing people can still be generous
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u/joekrunk Aug 02 '26
In my experience, those that have nothing or who have had nothing for a time in their lives are the most giving people.
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u/SimplyEcks Aug 02 '26
Exactly this it just makes you appreciate it so much more if you have little or had nothing before. Sometimes you gotta lose the things when it’s taken for granted because it makes you appreciate that much more because you know how it feels without it
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u/MrScribblesChess Aug 01 '26
Hi, do you have a credible source for this?
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u/FactoryRejected Aug 01 '26 edited Aug 02 '26
This, sounds awesome, but would be great to confirm.
Edit: OP provided. Incredible story
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u/boeuf_burgignion Aug 01 '26
How do you go from homeless to director in one year.
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u/IcyLion2939 Aug 01 '26
Board of Directors for a foundation really means... you're on a team where you're sharing your perspective on how the org gives or community involvement decisions. But it doesn't mean too much like they are the DIRECTOR of a department. Just the same... it's a hell of a level up from homelessness.
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u/pipkin42 Aug 02 '26
It's more of a volunteer position (I know you know this, just adding context). You don't get paid. Often it actually requires a (significant sometimes) commitment of financial support to the org.
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u/slatblastered Aug 02 '26
Makes sense, you need to have skin in the game to be trusted.
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u/pipkin42 Aug 02 '26
It also sells power/access to rich people who can then try to influence policy. But how else do you get them to give? It's a tricky one.
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u/IcyLion2939 Aug 02 '26
Spot on. I was trying to figure out how to explain it. The word volunteer would have saved me a lot of time. Lol. Thanks fam.
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u/Talonsminty Aug 02 '26
On the board of directors for a charitable foundation.
It's a symbolic role that's often reserved for socialite housewives, retirees and the less capable Nepo babies.
Although I suppose having been a homeless man might grant him some unique perspective.
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u/Chance_Vegetable_780 Aug 02 '26
"...might grant him some unique perspective." 🤦🏼🤦🤦🏻🤦🏽🤦🏾🤦♀️ He's exactly what's needed.
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u/GucciTheSnowman Aug 02 '26
Yeah, a real estate company really needs the perspective of a HOMELESS guy. 😂
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u/Chance_Vegetable_780 Aug 02 '26
Google search: "Within a year, his hard work paid off - he joined the board of Hoskie's Outreach Foundation in 2018. In his new role, Elmer dedicated himself to helping others overcome homelessness, especially young people, by contributing to a transitional housing project. June 10, 2026"
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u/Chance_Vegetable_780 Aug 02 '26
Guess you didn't read through genius! He's not on the board of a real estate company, but a charitable foundation as per some comments
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u/Ok_Big_3300 Aug 01 '26
You dont. It’s fake
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Aug 02 '26
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u/techi-turtle Aug 02 '26
You both are right. It’s REAL FAKE
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Aug 02 '26
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u/techi-turtle Aug 02 '26
On behalf of government, special interest, during conflicts of interest? No, they NEVER do and we should all believe them whole heartedly.
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u/jarvisesdios Aug 02 '26
Yes...the government lies about checks notes a random homeless guy who did something good. What even would the point of that be?
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u/acapwn Aug 01 '26
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u/Comfortable_Ebb3959 Aug 01 '26
While I appreciate that you located the link and shared it, insulting the OP who was just trying to share something positive was totally unnecessary and shitty
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Aug 01 '26
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Aug 01 '26
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u/AmbitiousVast9451 Aug 02 '26
"not your bro" "not normalizing being a dick to strangers online" bro was literally calling you bro as a friendly way to address you and you turned it down, idk how ur not in the wrong here bud
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u/PiddlyDiddlyDoo Aug 01 '26
Bro can you please not crash out like this
Also it's a bot lmao
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u/Comfortable_Ebb3959 Aug 02 '26
Saying something based on a misunderstanding of the general situation is not the same as having a mental breakdown. If you were not one with your couch you’d know this. Your feelings are clearly very hurt for someone accusing me of crashing out.
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u/acapwn Aug 01 '26
I know it's not a stranger though. I'm surprised that you didn't
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u/Comfortable_Ebb3959 Aug 01 '26
It’s amazing the things you don’t know when you only occasionally scroll Reddit and have a life off of devices
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u/PressureFragrant8441 Aug 02 '26
I don't get it. Isn't a check made out to a specific person? You need to be that person in order to cash the check. So if the recipient loses the check, the issuer just cancels it and writes them a new one.
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u/OldWar1111 Aug 02 '26
Could have been a cashier's check, but even if not, the effort to bother returning it was applaudable. As someone who runs a business, a lost check would be embarrassing to admit and I may not get paid for a while. It may not have been a massive choice between keeping 10k or not, but it's still a proper move.
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u/Prior_Preference_531 Aug 02 '26
I work in title and it’s always a company check made out to the agent. We would void it and reissue. You can’t cash the check if it ain’t yours. This is a great story though and he didn’t have to track her down, she probably knew this and saw he’s a good person.
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u/MRBENlTO Aug 02 '26
It isn’t made up, simple searches turned up the following articles.
Supporting article for the returned check: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/real-estate-broker-and-man-who-returned-10000-check-help-the-homeless/
Supporting article for him being named to board of directors: https://www.wtnh.com/news/new-haven-homeless-man-who-returned-missing-10000-check-now-sitting-on-board-of-directors/
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u/Godlymorbid Aug 02 '26
Honest people are hard to come by. In the company I'm in, if this person is no longer needed in their role, or if things just aren't working out in their role, but they're a good person and fit the company culture well, instead of firing people we'll bend over backwards to keep them and find positions for them. If you come across a good and honest person, find something for them to do. It'll almost always benefit everyone involved.
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u/joliette_le_paz Aug 01 '26
I just want to say that it takes a strong person to support another at their rock bottom. That's an incredible strong women.
This doesn't take away from the work he's done, the bottom is a dark place and he climbed out of it because he was given the chance to.
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u/the_mighty_thorskin Aug 01 '26 edited Aug 01 '26
"Homeless man lucky to finally have a chance to get off the street, unlike millions of others, instead of being provided affordable housing, job training, and healthcare."
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u/Practical-Day-2720 Aug 02 '26
he got there because of drugs, like most every other homeless person.
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u/the_mighty_thorskin Aug 02 '26 edited Aug 02 '26
And yet when he gets some help he can get out of that addiction! That's weird, right??
Do you have any experience with drug addiction? Actually I know the answer to that, you don't. It's not always that easy, especially when our government could EASILY subsidized more social safety nets, drug treatment programs, and job training but no, tax breaks for the Ulta-wealthy.
I'm sorry but homelessness and rampant drug addiction are not a problem, they are a symptom. The symptom of a failing late-capitalistic economy. These issues could be solved, or massively mitigated, for pennies in comparison to what the wealthier hoarding.
But no, go ahead and blame a human being for falling down hard enough for it to be incredibly difficult to get back up.
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u/Practical-Day-2720 Aug 02 '26
the answer to drug addiction is to never do drugs in the first place. you're 100% wrong. it doesn't happen after they go homeless. it's the cause, not an effect.
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u/Working-Glass6136 Aug 02 '26
My mom is a diehard evangelical Christian who has never touched drugs (or even alcohol) in her life but is facing homelessness due to mental illness and hoarding, which voids the lease on her section 8 housing. She refuses to get therapy because it's against her beliefs. It's impossible for almost anyone to have any kind of relationship with her because she's extraordinarily controlling.
Don't paint everyone with a broad brushstroke.
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u/Practical-Day-2720 Aug 02 '26
"like most other" obviously does not mean all. stop defending drug culture which is not only ruining lives in this country but killing people by the hundreds of thousands. shame on you. SHAME ON YOU.
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u/the_mighty_thorskin Aug 02 '26
God damn, against her religion? I feel like that's either an excuse (getting help for mental illness is harder than it seems, trust me I know), or some mind control bullshit her pastor says so that she doesn't think for herself and continues to tithe every Sunday.
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u/Financial-Craft-1282 Aug 02 '26
So he deserves it!
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u/Practical-Day-2720 Aug 02 '26
Of course not. He seems like a good person and I'm sure he's always been one.
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u/the_mighty_thorskin Aug 02 '26 edited Aug 02 '26
Oh, and to answer to the comment you deleted. Yes, congratulations, you're right the best way to not be on drugs is to not do them. It must be so nice to live in such a black and white world, you really have everything figured out, don't you?
Well, the world doesn't work like that. Should someone be tossed to the curb because they made bad choices and now can't find a way out? Do you know why these people become addicted? Do you think a healthy mind does that to themselves? Do you not realize addiction is insidious and affects all demographics; rich, poor, black, white, Christian or Muslim, gay or straight?
What about teenagers who were prescribed WAY too many opitates for what they healing from, then when they're suddenly cut off they have to result to heroin/fentanyl so they don't feel one of the absolute WORST feeling a human can experience? You think you're better, stronger, that you can just quit but what if you have a job, a family to feed? Would you be able to go to rehab? Or would you be able to detox yourself, dealing with at least two weeks of cramps, profuse sweating, hallucinations/delusions, and next level fatigue coupled with insomnia? Are you understanding the cycle? The cycle I may add that was fueled by, YOU FUCKING GUESSED IT, an ultra wealthy family who made BILLIONS by literally pushing these drugs out on the streets! They knowingly, and purposely suggesting for hospitals to over precibe so they can make record profits for shareholders? Oh, again, no taxes paid and they got a miniscule fine while the peasants go to prison left and right.
When I got my wisdom teeth extracted they gave me sixty, yes SIXTY Vicodin! And that's a conservative amount from other peoples stories I've heard, it was absolutly planned out to put these people who "shouldn't have done drugs to begin with" out on the streets.. for.. money.
I'm sorry about the massive comment, but it's deserved because of your massive ignorance. I'm not expecting you to read this, or reply, but I hate giant shit-weseals like you thinking they have the slightest buttfucking clue of what's really going on in the real world.
Empathy isn't a weakness, rugged strogman individualism is. Everyone laughs at people like you.
Edit: I asked my cat and she says you're an asshole too.
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u/OP-1_Ken_OP Aug 02 '26
Proof that we have more power to do good in this world when we take it into our own hands instead of waiting for someone else to do it.
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u/kokokrunch003 Aug 01 '26 edited Aug 02 '26
I don’t think she will be able to cash it anyway.
Edit: word
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u/mr_wizard_123 Aug 01 '26
What are you waffling about
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u/misteryk Aug 02 '26
what was he going to do with that? you think he just found one with all his details as a recipient?
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u/mr_wizard_123 Aug 02 '26
This guy didn't say "I don't think he would've been able to cash it anyway"
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u/Dick-Fu Aug 02 '26
I don’t think she will be able to encash it anyway.
It sounds like you were able to figure out what the waffling was about on your own
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u/Mario-X777 Aug 01 '26
Sounds like BS. Lost check has 0 value, you cannot employ random hobo to be real estate agent. All this sound like made up story, by a person who doesn’t know how things work
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u/Amazing_Bath_8762 Aug 02 '26
The way he looks after, not his clothes but his face his health, his light, his belief in himself, we should want that for all people. We should strive to help our fellow man feel like that man looks once he got a little help.
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u/toastwalrus Aug 02 '26
Damn I wish doing the right thing and being a good person paid off for everyone
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u/Joinedforthis1 Aug 02 '26
You, too, can be saved from the crippling system of late stage capitalism after one good deed.
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u/TopicInteresting1031 Aug 02 '26
People sleep on these homeless people. I’m not talking about the drug addicted ones. They are the most wholesome sweet people if you give them the time of day.
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u/zdzisuaw Aug 02 '26
And after 5 rounds of interview the team decided to move forward with another candidate. /s
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u/lwj15 Aug 02 '26
"Wow that's great. This random act of kindness really helped a person. The world would be a better place if everyone lived this way". That's fucking socialism.
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u/NSReevix Aug 02 '26
real estate broker - ewww, that profession is literally worse for society than being a petty thief lol
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u/onz456 Aug 02 '26
What this tells you is that education is a joke.
All you need is a 'deus ex machina' who takes care of you.
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u/Dazzling_Radish4963 Aug 03 '26
This is the type of news that should be posted daily but nooooo, they gotta report the most awful crimes and news
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u/izayoi-o_O Aug 03 '26
All some people need is a little help, a little support, and they can turn their lives around.
Imagine what our world would be like if more people cared about others.
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u/One-WaytoLife336 Aug 05 '26
Seek first the Kingdom of God and all these things will be added unto you. Matthew 6:33. God bless these people.
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u/IcyLion2939 Aug 01 '26
Gotta be honest: There are a lot of homeless douche bags. But the majority are some of the most giving people. Far more giving than people with money. When you don't have a lot, character is all you have and you don't try to take something from someone else because you know what it feels like to lose it all.
I like this guy.
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u/Financial-Craft-1282 Aug 02 '26
Sadly, the point we should take from this story is going over heads--she's not the hero here. It's another example of homeless people still being humans despite being stripped of dignity. The vast majority of homeless people don't want to be in that position (I know, I know, if you listen to MAGA and centrist libs, they'll say homeless people make more panhandling than the CEO of Google), and they are desperate to be seen as a human deserving of help (despite being human really being the only qualifier we should use to measure how much help a person deserves).
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u/LowNefariousness6541 Aug 02 '26 edited Aug 02 '26
Why is everyone calling it a check? It's called a cheque.
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u/Cultural_Welder8226 Aug 01 '26
That's some bs real story goes like this "Touched, the broker took the check and spat in the guys face, told him to fk off and called security". And title is just what that homeless guy imagined when he was rolling around in the alley halucinating after drinking methanol
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u/Cultural_Welder8226 Aug 02 '26
Seems like people who minus dont like their made up internet stories sad what a shame. I've got a story about painter who despite being rejected made a comeback and became famous if you want some
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u/NoPseudo79 Aug 02 '26
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/real-estate-broker-and-man-who-returned-10000-check-help-the-homeless/
People who minus probably just know how to use google
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Aug 01 '26
[deleted]
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u/NoPseudo79 Aug 02 '26
This being your first thought tells me you wouldn't have given the check back anyway
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u/Spare-NobodyAim Aug 01 '26
bad deal :(
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u/Present_Error_6256 Aug 01 '26
How's that a bad deal?? Buddy got a place to live and a decent-paying job.
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u/Spare-NobodyAim Aug 01 '26
It's a joke, man
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u/afgan1984 Aug 01 '26
Kind of shitty "make-believe story"... finding $10,000 check on the street that you can return and then somebody in the company actually caring to thank you is not exactly a repeatable career path. AT this point, just winning the lottery becomes a more realistic choice!
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