A Colorado man who had been homeless for more than six years finally got a little bit of luck Friday when he won $500,000 on a scratch-off lottery ticket.
Michael Engfors, 60, was born and raised in Aspen. After struggling with alcoholism, losing his business, and getting a divorce, he has been homeless for more than six years.
"Michael has seen a bottom that has pushed him right to the edge," Jeremy Kowalis with the Aspen Homeless Shelter said. "But Michael never gave up. He knew that if he kept pushing on, eventually his luck would change."
His luck did, indeed, change drastically on Friday. He purchased a lottery ticket, scratched off the very first number, and realized he won $500,000.
"It's such a great story, and it's really inspired so many people, because out of all of the people, especially in Aspen, Colorado, that could win half-a-million dollars, it couldn't happen to a better type of person, than somebody who actually uses the homeless shelter, that's for sure," Kowalis said. "I don't think he normally spends $10 a day on a lottery ticket. But he did that day, and it sure paid off."
After verifying that he actually won $500,000 at a gas station on Main St., Engfors went to Saint Mary Catholic Church where he spent one final weekend sleeping on the floor. He then shared the news with a small group of people.
"I asked him what he was gonna do, and he said he wanted to get some skis and he really wanted to connect with his daughter who he hadn't seen in over 20 years," Kowalis said. "He's interested in trying to find out how to go about reaching her and re-connecting with her, now that he's got a little bit more means to do so."
Engfors plans to purchase a plane ticket to go visit his daughter, wherever she may be.
The director of the Aspen Homeless Shelter drove Engfors to Grand Junction Monday to begin the process of collecting his earnings.
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Thanks to Crazy Wombat for the tip.
TYTYTY!!!! <3
IN PERFECT WAYS UNDER GRACE!!! CONGRADULATIONS WHAT A WONDERFUL FRESH START FOR THIS PERSON!!!!
MANY BLESSINGS TO YOU!!!!!! <3
Great story! A fresh start and for what he's been through, he sure deserves it. Very, very happy for this man!
Keep going, no matter how bad things seem, there is light at the end of the tunnel even if it's not what's expected.
Life is full of ups and downs..some people have more downs than ups...ignore who is bad for you - after you give them
a piece of your mind, write them off....ignore who seems to be good for you but isn't, discover the difference...see what
people are and who is worth your time....I like stories like this when people who are down but not out yet, or even some
that are out, come out of it with smiles on their faces. I hope he can connect with his daughter again. It might've been
his ideas about himself holding him back. 20 years is a long time.
Find some joy and thankfulness in the small things, remember others, try to be a good person and a reward may be
lined up for you. If the best you can do is say you tried and didn't give up, that might be the best reward of all.
Again...very happy for him!!
Wow great <snip>*ng story. Congrats to the winner.
Thats great! Never give up on your dream! You never know what could or can happen! He is a PRIME example! If I was him I would buy a small house. That would be a good investment on his money. CONGRATS!!!
Congratulation to Michael Engfors on his win. Couldn't happen at a better time. He may be interested in re-connecting with his daughter, hopefully she feels the same after 20 years.
He was given another chance no doubt. So wish him well on his new found prosperity.
Hope he gets into a recovery program to deal with his addiction, or he could end up homeless again.
He must have done some praying before sleeping on the floor at St. Mary's Church.
NOW THIS IS WHAT THE LOTTERY IS FOR! Anybody can win and this man's win is wonderful, a feel good story.
This story was just on Fox News!
So great to hear at this time of the year..AMEN..
I hope good things start to come his way.
Cool ! Sounds like his priorities are in order.
No better time to win! many blessing and best wishes. He started a journey and came to end of that road and now he will begin new journey, may it be beautiful filled with scenic roads. What a wonderful story.
Good Luck to Michael Engfors!! Thank God for St.Mary's Catholic Church.
I hope that he spends what he keeps after taxes wisely.
It looks like he was a well deserving winner. Although, I kind of question the wisdom of buying lotto tickets if you are poor and homeless. Other homeless people should not see this as an example of how to spend their limited funds.
Hope he gets and/or stays sober and his daughter takes him in because after taxes, the 500k is not that much to live on for the rest of your life.
What a feel good story. Hopefully things will get even better for him here on out.
I wish nothing but the very best for this Gentleman.
Somewhere over the Rainbow......
Good, inspiring story.
Hi Sully16,
Although I don't comment much, I do read most stories and the comments left by members.
Anyway, I was driving around today running errands and "Wish You Were Here" came on my radio and I immediately thought of your reference to it in your sig.
I think the following is almost right before the line you have in your sig and for some reason I remembered it:
"Did they get you to trade ... your heroes for ghosts?"
It just stayed stuck in my head all day.
Thought I'd mention this just for the heck of it.
Happy Holidays!
JoeCanWin
Will his daughter take him in? Maybe, but getting to know each other after 20 years seems more important.
He could just rent a nice place close to her. IMHO he should not buy a house! After taxes on the win and a house he will be broke. We don't want that.
I just wish him the best and hopefully his daughter will give him a second chance.
At least now he has the opportunity to take that chance.
He has the ball now...
Looks like his luck is beginning to change for the better!
Best Wishes to him.
"after taxes, the 500k is not that much to live on"
$350,000 invested in VWEAX would provide around $1,600 before-tax monthly dividends.
Great story .I love to here stories like this especially around Christmas .It gives us all hope that miracles do happen when u think positive,have faith and believe.Congrats Michael Engfors and I hope he goes buy himself a home and transportation.
"$350,000 invested in VWEAX would provide around $1,600 before-tax monthly dividends."
$1600 a month isn't a much to live on even if it's after taxes.
"$1600 a month isn't a much to live on"
Correct . . but a lot of folks making $10 an hour have adapted.
Good thing he is not homeless in NC he would still be scratching
A bout with alcoholism? It's going to be hard to fight the bottle. I wonder how many bottles of Jack you can buy with $500,000.
Yes, gy65, it's lovely amount. It is enough in case he is unable to work a job. So, perhaps this transient, modest lottery winner could rent a room for $500/month (utilities included) in some homeowner's 2000 sq. ft. home. Anywhere he chooses. This way, if one town doesn't provide much joy, after 6 months or so, he could search for the same type of arrangement in a different state that his recent research at a local library shows is desirable to him.
Anyhow, I hope he doesn't have to wait 45 days to receive post income taxed monies.
A moot point, since this lottery winner won't receive anything close to $500K for spending/investing/saving.
Wow, what a great story! Congrats Mr. Engfors!
I would gladly give up five times his winnings for one more chance to share time and space with my dad. If money can bring dad and daughter back together, may the Angels intervene to help grant his wish.
So far, this is my favorite "feel good" story this Christmas season.
Many Congrats to the lucky lottery winner!
I hope he spends it well so he wont go homeless anymore.
Congratulations to Michael Engfors.
Good things really do comes to people who waited with patience.
I hope he gets independent, professional legal and financial advice. This is the last chance saloon, I hope he doesn't squander it.
I am happy for him. I just wish state lotteries would put the safety and security, including the financial security of winners first, especially in cases like this.
Who benefits from his identity being revealed? Certainly not the winner, it makes him a sitting duck. I hope he will be strong enough to resist all the requests for "help". I also hope he is smart enough to resist all the "investment opportunities", that will be offered to him.