homeless

Prankster Josh Paler Lin gave $100 to a homeless man on the street, but it wasn't just a random act of kindness. He wanted to know exactly what he would do with the money and capture it on film.

Next thing you know, the guy is walking into a liquor store. But what he buys will surprise you and probably bring a tear to your eye.

"I wasn't expecting to get this kind of footage," he writes in the caption. "To be honest, I thought this video would be more an exposing homeless people video at first. But I'm so glad that I could witness and capture such a beautiful moment."

"Thiis is my crib, come check it out bitches!" Homeless bro masterfully made the most out of a shit-coated, rock bottom kind of situation. If a guy living under a freeway can proceed to build a damn pimp pad, then shit, first world problems like having low phone battery while out on a Friday night, or the overpriced indie foods market not having your ritualistic almond croissant -- seem pretty damn, sickeningly petty. 

The busking musician detailed the encounter and his cause: 

I went out busking in Leeds on New Year's Eve and, after a while, was joined by a homeless man in a wheelchair who asked if he could sing with me. As a busker, I spend a lot of time on the streets and had seen this man many times over the years, but didn't know he was singer, and, as the years had gone by, his health and wellbeing seemed to have worsened a great deal. We jammed out a version of 'Summertime' and I was blown away by his voice so I stopped a passerby and asked them to capture the moment on my camera phone and then uploaded the video to my Facebook page where it quickly went viral as thousands of people shared it.

My spontaneous street jam with Bernard Davey was a soul-affirming, enriching experience which summed up everything I love about street culture. The streets are full of wonderful surprises and stories. I hope Bernard's amazing improvised version of 'Summertime' helps people to remember not to judge people they see on the streets according to their appearances, but to always look below the surface appearance and find the person underneath.

Moments like these are why I founded the Keep Streets Live Campaign, a not for profit organisation which advocates for public spaces which are open to informal offerings of art and music and campaigns against the criminalisation of homelessness and street culture.

In addition, there are many wonderful charities that work with homeless and vulnerably housed including Inn Churches which provides emergency accommodation for the homeless in churches during the cold winter months and intercepts food waste to give to the hungry. I am doing a sponsored sober year in 2016 to raise funds for them and you can find out more and make a donation.