Homeless Man Found a Piece of Paper That Promised Him a Better Future— If He Could Follow One Simple Rule

When a homeless man in New Haven, Connecticut stumbled upon a piece of paper on the ground, he had no idea just how much his life was about to change because of it.

This wasn’t just a crumpled up receipt or a misplaced to-do list, but instead a gateway to success thanks to one woman who let the paper slip out of her hands… And she soon hatched a plan that would be the difference between changing this man’s life, or letting him return to the streets.

Living on the Streets

New Haven winters are harsh for everyone, with freezing conditions and snow storms forcing you to shovel your driveway multiple times a day. However, for Elmer Alvarez, winters were especially severe as he had been living on the streets for several years.

His Drug Addiction Led Him to Be Homeless

Even though he was living rough, Elmer was still determined to seek help for his addiction, and he had hope that he wouldn’t always live on the streets. He attended Narcotics Anonymous where he was encouraged to live a better life.

Not only were his meetings a place that sheltered him from the cold, they eventually helped him beat his addiction for good.

Getting Off the Streets Was a Difficult Journey

Everyday, Elmer thought about ways to get off the street, but the idea of it was a lot easier than actually doing it.

However, one day Elmer would carry out a selfless act that would give him a golden opportunity to turn his life around, he just didn’t know it yet…

One Day Can Change Everything

On a cold November morning, Elmer was wandering the streets when he came across a piece of paper lying on the ground. Discarded papers like this are often times just a simple grocery store receipt, but they could just as easily be a winning lottery ticket!

When Elmer looked closely, he saw it was a signed check.