- [Mark Horvath] Mohammad, we are in Chicago.
And I met you last year.
It was a rainy night last year
and it looks like it's gonna rain again and cold man.
You're missing an arm.
- Yes sir.
- [Mark Horvath] So you're not going
to be able to find work.
- No, I got shot six times, gang banging and drug dealing
about 12 or 13 years ago.
God gave me a second chance at life.
I had a lot of money, I was rich.
But now I'm homeless and I ask society for a little help.
The Lord Jesus Christ gave me a second chance at life
and I appreciate that.
It's good citizens like you that make a good person like me
that helps me through, get through.
- [Mark Horvath] Alright, but I mean, here you're,
when I first walked up, you know, today,
because you know I spent some time with you last night,
and you're brother. - Yes sir, yes sir.
- [Mark Horvath] And you said so far you only got a quarter.
- I only got 25 cents sir.
- [Mark Horvath] And you said today
people are treating you...
- They're treating me like crap today.
But you know what though I keep my heart set on the Lord.
And I know God has a blessing for me somewhere.
It's not society's fault
that I go through what I'm going through.
- [Mark Horvath] Well, yeah, well we're about ready
to walk in, I'm going to treat you to a nice meal.
- Yes sir, I appreciate that sir.
- [Mark Horvath] Well last year's rain,
I got you in a hotel room.
- Yes sir, I appreciate that.
- [Mark Horvath] But I mean, here it's a year man.
A year later, you're still on the streets
- On the streets. - in Chicago.
- [Mark Horvath] Now do you get SSI or anything?
- I sure don't sir.
- [Mark Horvath] Now why not?
- Well, I was pending for SSI,
but they denied me three times, so I didn't go (mumbles).
- [Mark Horvath] You're missing an arm.
- Yes sir.
- [Mark Horvath] Oh my gosh.
- But they say, I'm able to work.
- [Mark Horvath] Okay, but do they help you find a job?
- No sir.
If they had, I wouldn't be out in the streets.
- [Mark Horvath] So here it is,
last year you were seven years homeless, now you're
eight years homeless. - Eight years homeless.
- [Mark Horvath] You know what I mean?
- I just made 41 years old in March.
- [Mark Horvath] Well happy birthday.
What day?
- March the 14th, 3-14-71.
- [Mark Horvath] Oh my gosh, I was March 13th.
- Yeah. - Alright.
- [Mark Horvath] So here it is, a year later.
You're still homeless.
People walking by, treating you like crap.
Panhandling, making a quarter.
How long you been out here?
- About three and a half hours.
- [Mark Horvath] Three and a half hours
and all you got is a quarter.
- A quarter. - For reals?
- For real.
- [Mark Horvath] Oh my gosh.
Oh my gosh.
See, my heart's broke dude. - Me too.
- [Mark Horvath] When I meet people like a year later,
I'm happy to see them,
but I'm tore up because in a year's time,
we haven't been able to get them out of homelessness.
- Yes Sir. - That's crazy man.
- Well there's over 10,000 homeless people
here in the city of Chicago,
sleeping on Lower Wacker Drive.
- [Mark Horvath] Yeah, you all sleep out and around.
You're hid really well. - That's right.
- [Mark Horvath] That's what you're brother
was telling me last night.
- Yes sir. - Oh my gosh.
- [Mark Horvath] Crazy man.
- You got people that even sleep up on the Trump Tower.
- Wow. - Yeah.
- Wow. - The cops chase...
The cops chase 'em out, chase us out, run us away.
So that's why I get me a little $10 motel room every night.
So I won't have to go through that.
- [Mark Horvath] So your only income is panhandling.
- Yes sir, that's my only income.
And a LINK card.
- [Mark Horvath] What's that?
- A LINK card, food stamps.
- [Mark Horvath] Okay, okay got you.
We call 'em EBTs. - Yeah.
- [Mark Horvath] Okay, so you get food stamps.
But you don't get any general relief, anything?
- No sir.
- [Mark Horvath] They don't give it to you here at all?
- No sir. - Wow.
- They cut out general assistance in Illinois.
- They cut it out? - They cut it out.
- [Mark Horvath] So, today, three and a half hours
all you got is a quarter? - A quarter.
- 25 cents. - 25 cents.
- [Mark Horvath] And you're still smiling?
- Well, it's not society's fault, what I'm going through.
I just ask for a little help.
I got to keep my heart set on the right things.
I been cussed at.
I been called Nigger.
I've been beat up.
I've had my front teeth knocked out.
- From panhandling? - Yes sir.
There was a guy that got killed on Randolph & Wabash
from panhandling. - Wow.
- Some Mexicans beat him to death.
- Wow. - I know.
So it's really, really not safe downtown.
Anything can happen late at night.
So that's why I try to stay off the streets at night.
'Cause I know you got a lot of crack heads out here.
And the reason I don't sleep on Lower Wacker drive,
we got a lot of guys that use heroin and cocaine down there.
I don't want to be a part of that.
I'm already homeless.
I already got one and a third of an arm.
God gave me a second chance at life.
I had 330 staples down my chest and in my stomach.
I got wires in my stomach right now today,
from being shot six times.
But God gave me a second chance at life
so I try to stay humble and stay peaceful.
- [Mark Horvath] You're encouraging me man.
You know, because whatever you're going through in life
you gotta smile. - Yes sir.
- [Mark Horvath] You gotta look at the bright side.
- Yes sir, I got a second chance, I'm here.
- [Mark Horvath] Well, if you had three wishes,
what would they be?
- A motel room, something to eat, and a Bible.
- [Mark Horvath] You don't have a Bible?
Oh my gosh.
Well we're going to have to help you with those wishes.
- Yes sir. - So.
- [Mark Horvath] Thank you very much for talking with me.
- Thank you sir.
And thanks for being kind to me.
And thanks for opening your heart and your mind to me.
I appreciate you.