It's rushed and it's rough but at least it's done. I finally finished editing a trailer of my interview with Michael, a man who has a master's degree in Psychology and used to be a marriage and family counselor, and who has been homeless for over four years. It's about eight minutes long.
If anyone has any ideas of how to help this guy please let me know. It's really starting to tear me up.
By the way, one of the most common reactions to seeing the clip is that he is lying. While I have not yet had a chance to follow up on everyting, I have been able to do enough background checking to convince myself (and I'm a pretty skeptical guy) that he is telling the truth at least about the substance of his story. He has given me a lot of verifiable background information, and so far everything that I have been able to check confirms his story. I'll post details when I have more complete information.
That link doesn't work any more. This one does.
ReplyDeleteI have no problem believing everything Michael is saying. However, I am reasonably sure that this guy doesn't have a determination or a plan. He says he has a son living somewhere. So he's in such bad relations with his son that the son won't help him when he's hopeless? Or perhaps Michael doesn't want to be a burden on his family?
Why don't you try proposing him the following investment: you give him $x,xxx and he agrees to spend that on a plan that involves (1) getting cleaned up, (2) getting an apartment in whatever place in the USA where there is economic opportunity, (3A) THEN finding a job, or (3B) opening his own practice or small business. I'm guessing a four-figure investment is all he needs. You don't need the money immediately, so he can return it to you whenever, say in 5 years.
Make him this offer and then see (1) whether he accepts it, (2) whether he uses it to execute a plan, or just blows it like he's currently doing.
This guy doesn't need to be homeless. Going to Burger king all dishevelled and without an address and asking for a job is not a plan. If this is the only thing he deigned to try, he's not in a particular rush to lift himself up.
And if that works out and Michael does return the money to you in 5 years - then why not create a self-sustaining charity with the following business plan: (1) find homeless people who need an investment to get away from their homelessness; (2) work out a plan with them and give them a long-term loan which they agree to repay with interest when they have the money, in 5 or so years; (3) collect the capital + interest and repeat.
ReplyDeleteIf there are any people among the homeless that have any potential, this is a business plan that will work. And if it doesn't work, well, at least you'll have found that what I wrote in a comment to another of your articles today is likely true.
That link doesn't work any more.
ReplyDeleteSorry. Should be fixed now. Thanks for pointing that out.
Why don't you try proposing him the following investment...
There have been many developments since this trailer was made. But you'll have to wait for the movie to come out to learn about them :-)