Detroit – A homeless man who has been living in Detroit’s streets for the past 7 years now takes credit card donations thanks to Square, an app he purchased for his phone. If donations are not good enough to improve his condition, he has also created a website where he can be hired to work odd jobs.
Abe Hagenston, a 42-year-old man who is also known as “Honest Abe” said he is trying to turn his current situation into something that will not only help him but also help others. Hagenston is referring to helping other fellow homeless as he has taken some other guys out on team jobs where he needed a couple extra help for the jobs he’s hired from his website.
“I take VISA, MasterCard, and American Express. I’m the only homeless guy in America who can take a credit card. It’s all done safely and securely through square.com.”
Hagenston explained he decided to go digital because of the light winter. This kind of weather means less snow removal jobs for the homeless, which forced him to find a new way to earn enough money to survive.
Currently an estimated of 578,424 people were experiencing homelessness in the US, according to the State of Homelessness in America report, conducted by the National Alliance to End Homelessness.
Different programs to help people under this situation are being developed around the US. Minneapolis for instance, has centers where young homeless families can get food and medical services. With the help of both the private and public sectors the state has been able to offer housing subsidies to help get homeless off the street and into homes.
New Orleans is also working to help people without home. Back in 2014 a group known as UNITY, a collaboration among 60 different state, local, and federal agencies, removed 227 homeless veterans from the streets which helped end veteran homelessness in the city completely.
“Being homeless is my business now,” Hagenston said. “My business is being homeless.”
Source: Christian Science Monitor