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HOPE is Homeless | Andrew Funk | TEDxGracia


hope is homeless hope is something that

hope is homeless hope is something that happens when you aren’t expecting it and

happens when you aren’t expecting it and

happens when you aren’t expecting it and homelessness is something we walk into

homelessness is something we walk into

homelessness is something we walk into we walk by every single day and until it

we walk by every single day and until it

we walk by every single day and until it happens to you you just keep walking and

happens to you you just keep walking and

happens to you you just keep walking and you pretend it doesn’t exist when that

you pretend it doesn’t exist when that

you pretend it doesn’t exist when that person sitting on the ground and it’s

person sitting on the ground and it’s

person sitting on the ground and it’s you and you watch other people walk by

you and you watch other people walk by

you and you watch other people walk by you think you’re invisible but the

you think you’re invisible but the

you think you’re invisible but the reality is you’re not invisible society

reality is you’re not invisible society

reality is you’re not invisible society is blind I was homeless I was homeless

is blind I was homeless I was homeless

is blind I was homeless I was homeless for about a year and a half something

for about a year and a half something

for about a year and a half something that I never thought would happen to me

that I never thought would happen to me

that I never thought would happen to me homelessness is many things it’s not

homelessness is many things it’s not

homelessness is many things it’s not just sleeping in the street and it’s not

just sleeping in the street and it’s not

just sleeping in the street and it’s not just it just doesn’t happen to people

just it just doesn’t happen to people

just it just doesn’t happen to people that have mental illness issues or

that have mental illness issues or

that have mental illness issues or someone with drug habits I was making

someone with drug habits I was making

someone with drug habits I was making 3000 euros a month but I was not able to

3000 euros a month but I was not able to

3000 euros a month but I was not able to pay for debt six months before that I

pay for debt six months before that I

pay for debt six months before that I was basically we had just raised three

was basically we had just raised three

was basically we had just raised three hundred thousand euros for a startup

hundred thousand euros for a startup

hundred thousand euros for a startup called Heath accion I was really excited

called Heath accion I was really excited

called Heath accion I was really excited to get things going and my first my

to get things going and my first my

to get things going and my first my first son was born to what was supposed

first son was born to what was supposed

first son was born to what was supposed to be the highest moment in my life

to be the highest moment in my life

to be the highest moment in my life became my lowest moment and I really

became my lowest moment and I really

became my lowest moment and I really didn’t know what to do

hope is what’s left when you lose your

hope is what’s left when you lose your mind with that losing track of time one

mind with that losing track of time one

mind with that losing track of time one of the closest indicators for

of the closest indicators for

of the closest indicators for understanding if a homeless person is

understanding if a homeless person is

understanding if a homeless person is ready to come back into society is

ready to come back into society is

ready to come back into society is whether or not they can conceive that

whether or not they can conceive that

whether or not they can conceive that what time is for example if they have to

what time is for example if they have to

what time is for example if they have to do a presentation for five minutes

do a presentation for five minutes

do a presentation for five minutes normally will happen twenty fifteen

normally will happen twenty fifteen

normally will happen twenty fifteen minutes maybe even 30 seconds-1 you to

minutes maybe even 30 seconds-1 you to

minutes maybe even 30 seconds-1 you to keep track of time

keep track of time

keep track of time it means you understand what’s going on

it means you understand what’s going on

it means you understand what’s going on I made a personal decision to become

I made a personal decision to become

I made a personal decision to become homeless

homeless

homeless the economic situation did not allow me

the economic situation did not allow me

the economic situation did not allow me to have a healthy family lifestyle and I

to have a healthy family lifestyle and I

to have a healthy family lifestyle and I thought the best thing that I could do

thought the best thing that I could do

thought the best thing that I could do would be to leave that’s probably the

would be to leave that’s probably the

would be to leave that’s probably the hardest thing I ever had to do I took my

hardest thing I ever had to do I took my

hardest thing I ever had to do I took my left step out and my first step towards

left step out and my first step towards

left step out and my first step towards homelessness without even being able to

homelessness without even being able to

homelessness without even being able to understand what that meant the worst

understand what that meant the worst

understand what that meant the worst moment in which I felt really hopeless

moment in which I felt really hopeless

moment in which I felt really hopeless was when I woke up on the first night

was when I woke up on the first night

was when I woke up on the first night and I heard my son crying in another

and I heard my son crying in another

and I heard my son crying in another room but he wasn’t there and I wasn’t

room but he wasn’t there and I wasn’t

room but he wasn’t there and I wasn’t there for him

there for him

there for him that was probably the hardest moment for

that was probably the hardest moment for

that was probably the hardest moment for me so during a year I was making 3,000

me so during a year I was making 3,000

me so during a year I was making 3,000 euros pretending like my life was

euros pretending like my life was

euros pretending like my life was perfect I had to be with my clients and

perfect I had to be with my clients and

perfect I had to be with my clients and pretend like everything was perfect and

pretend like everything was perfect and

pretend like everything was perfect and that was probably the most difficult

that was probably the most difficult

that was probably the most difficult time

hope is an unexpected hand from a

hope is an unexpected hand from a stranger I was actually looking for ways

stranger I was actually looking for ways

stranger I was actually looking for ways to get out of my situation and there was

to get out of my situation and there was

to get out of my situation and there was one moment in which I had looked at

one moment in which I had looked at

one moment in which I had looked at Cuddy tha’s there was one problem I was

Cuddy tha’s there was one problem I was

Cuddy tha’s there was one problem I was working from 7:00 in the morning until

working from 7:00 in the morning until

working from 7:00 in the morning until 1:00 o’clock at night and you have to be

1:00 o’clock at night and you have to be

1:00 o’clock at night and you have to be there at 8:00 o’clock that is impossible

there at 8:00 o’clock that is impossible

there at 8:00 o’clock that is impossible for me I couldn’t stop working to be

for me I couldn’t stop working to be

for me I couldn’t stop working to be there at 8:00 o’clock and ironically I

there at 8:00 o’clock and ironically I

there at 8:00 o’clock and ironically I went to lunch week and I spent that

went to lunch week and I spent that

went to lunch week and I spent that night underneath the Stars with my

night underneath the Stars with my

night underneath the Stars with my future partner and it’s ironic because

future partner and it’s ironic because

future partner and it’s ironic because that would have been where I was going

that would have been where I was going

that would have been where I was going to be sleeping

to be sleeping

to be sleeping the next night but she opened up a door

the next night but she opened up a door

the next night but she opened up a door for me she gave me a place to live home

for me she gave me a place to live home

for me she gave me a place to live home is not just a roof home is a place where

is not just a roof home is a place where

is not just a roof home is a place where you feel comfortable and secure and you

you feel comfortable and secure and you

you feel comfortable and secure and you can focus on what’s really important to

can focus on what’s really important to

can focus on what’s really important to you

once you helped yourself you can help

once you helped yourself you can help others I was not able to help anyone

others I was not able to help anyone

others I was not able to help anyone else but I was able to focus on a model

else but I was able to focus on a model

else but I was able to focus on a model to help someone else I’m the first

to help someone else I’m the first

to help someone else I’m the first homeless entrepreneur I’m the first

homeless entrepreneur I’m the first

homeless entrepreneur I’m the first success story in that sense because I

success story in that sense because I

success story in that sense because I was figuring out how do I get out of

was figuring out how do I get out of

was figuring out how do I get out of this situation

this situation

this situation I had 35,000 contacts online I had my

I had 35,000 contacts online I had my

I had 35,000 contacts online I had my entrepreneurial spirit in mid design and

entrepreneurial spirit in mid design and

entrepreneurial spirit in mid design and my desire to change my situation I

my desire to change my situation I

my desire to change my situation I focused on that and focused on it and

focused on that and focused on it and

focused on that and focused on it and focused on it and when I was out because

focused on it and when I was out because

focused on it and when I was out because I had a home a place to call home I then

I had a home a place to call home I then

I had a home a place to call home I then started working with the first homeless

started working with the first homeless

started working with the first homeless entrepreneur publicly Marko’s I had just

entrepreneur publicly Marko’s I had just

entrepreneur publicly Marko’s I had just got done offering English classes for

got done offering English classes for

got done offering English classes for free to Pablo Iglesias and that was

free to Pablo Iglesias and that was

free to Pablo Iglesias and that was unless sexta my friends recorded it and

unless sexta my friends recorded it and

unless sexta my friends recorded it and I said okay let’s go edit it so we can

I said okay let’s go edit it so we can

I said okay let’s go edit it so we can send it out I was walking through Metro

send it out I was walking through Metro

send it out I was walking through Metro niversity debt and Marcos was sitting on

niversity debt and Marcos was sitting on

niversity debt and Marcos was sitting on the ground like this and he was asking

the ground like this and he was asking

the ground like this and he was asking for a friendly coin I walked by I

for a friendly coin I walked by I

for a friendly coin I walked by I thought I have an event in two days to

thought I have an event in two days to

thought I have an event in two days to raise funds for the first homeless

raise funds for the first homeless

raise funds for the first homeless entrepreneur and there are no homeless

entrepreneur and there are no homeless

entrepreneur and there are no homeless entrepreneurs yet because strangely

entrepreneurs yet because strangely

entrepreneurs yet because strangely enough the entities that should help you

enough the entities that should help you

enough the entities that should help you the most give you responses like if you

the most give you responses like if you

the most give you responses like if you can’t offer housing for life we can’t

can’t offer housing for life we can’t

can’t offer housing for life we can’t help you

help you

help you or if you can’t promise they’ll they’ll

or if you can’t promise they’ll they’ll

or if you can’t promise they’ll they’ll never go back to the street we can’t

never go back to the street we can’t

never go back to the street we can’t help you these are things that I could

help you these are things that I could

help you these are things that I could not promise anyone but I kept looking

not promise anyone but I kept looking

not promise anyone but I kept looking and I ran into Marcos probably the most

and I ran into Marcos probably the most

and I ran into Marcos probably the most complicated person I could work with but

complicated person I could work with but

complicated person I could work with but I like challenges so I came and I sat

I like challenges so I came and I sat

I like challenges so I came and I sat down by his side something that people

down by his side something that people

down by his side something that people don’t normally do and I said Marcos do

don’t normally do and I said Marcos do

don’t normally do and I said Marcos do you mind if I record you with a big

you mind if I record you with a big

you mind if I record you with a big camera give you gifts for Christmas and

camera give you gifts for Christmas and

camera give you gifts for Christmas and share that with the world

share that with the world

share that with the world he was like free presents I’m like yeah

he was like free presents I’m like yeah

he was like free presents I’m like yeah okay so we did the first video and that

okay so we did the first video and that

okay so we did the first video and that was my first step in trying to help

was my first step in trying to help

was my first step in trying to help someone besides myself

hope is failing and succeeding while

hope is failing and succeeding while always proceeding everyone talks about

always proceeding everyone talks about

always proceeding everyone talks about success kind of makes me laugh if you

success kind of makes me laugh if you

success kind of makes me laugh if you want a success story that everyone

want a success story that everyone

want a success story that everyone smiles about and can read the newspaper

smiles about and can read the newspaper

smiles about and can read the newspaper Paco is an example he was homeless for

Paco is an example he was homeless for

Paco is an example he was homeless for three years and he was unemployed for

three years and he was unemployed for

three years and he was unemployed for three years I was in Haiti working with

three years I was in Haiti working with

three years I was in Haiti working with the IDP the inter-american Development

the IDP the inter-american Development

the IDP the inter-american Development Bank and I received a message on

Bank and I received a message on

Bank and I received a message on LinkedIn saying we’re looking for a

LinkedIn saying we’re looking for a

LinkedIn saying we’re looking for a programmer I said I have the person for

programmer I said I have the person for

programmer I said I have the person for you his name is Paco I sent a message to

you his name is Paco I sent a message to

you his name is Paco I sent a message to Paco I said Paco you have an interview

Paco I said Paco you have an interview

Paco I said Paco you have an interview he went running to the interview he got

he went running to the interview he got

he went running to the interview he got the job not me

the job not me

the job not me we got the interview but he got the job

we got the interview but he got the job

we got the interview but he got the job thanks to that he’s now making 1300

thanks to that he’s now making 1300

thanks to that he’s now making 1300 euros a month and he donates 10% of what

euros a month and he donates 10% of what

euros a month and he donates 10% of what he makes to the association so we can

he makes to the association so we can

he makes to the association so we can help with his rap CD which is his talent

help with his rap CD which is his talent

help with his rap CD which is his talent because we believe talent can change

because we believe talent can change

because we believe talent can change your life and he’s also gonna be a

your life and he’s also gonna be a

your life and he’s also gonna be a father in seven months that’s an example

father in seven months that’s an example

father in seven months that’s an example of a success story for me personally

of a success story for me personally

of a success story for me personally working with them every single step

working with them every single step

working with them every single step forward is success what we try to do is

forward is success what we try to do is

forward is success what we try to do is make sure that the step backwards isn’t

make sure that the step backwards isn’t

make sure that the step backwards isn’t as far as last time and reduce the

as far as last time and reduce the

as far as last time and reduce the margin of error but this is the most

margin of error but this is the most

margin of error but this is the most important thing helping them smile more

important thing helping them smile more

important thing helping them smile more and longer that’s our most important

and longer that’s our most important

and longer that’s our most important indicator

help is growing unfortunately at 35

help is growing unfortunately at 35 years I can’t grow anymore my

years I can’t grow anymore my

years I can’t grow anymore my four-year-old son can and also so can

four-year-old son can and also so can

four-year-old son can and also so can our association

our association

our association what word we’re doing now is we’re

what word we’re doing now is we’re

what word we’re doing now is we’re reaching we’re helping 12 people in

reaching we’re helping 12 people in

reaching we’re helping 12 people in Barcelona

Barcelona

Barcelona Tarragona Rios Madrid Santiago and even

Tarragona Rios Madrid Santiago and even

Tarragona Rios Madrid Santiago and even Islamabad in Pakistan but we want to do

Islamabad in Pakistan but we want to do

Islamabad in Pakistan but we want to do it the right way it’s not about being in

it the right way it’s not about being in

it the right way it’s not about being in the press being in the press is really

the press being in the press is really

the press being in the press is really easy you just have to give people a

easy you just have to give people a

easy you just have to give people a story that want to hear the journalists

story that want to hear the journalists

story that want to hear the journalists don’t even check to know if it’s true

don’t even check to know if it’s true

don’t even check to know if it’s true it’s easy but that’s not our goal when

it’s easy but that’s not our goal when

it’s easy but that’s not our goal when we enter a city we start with one or two

we enter a city we start with one or two

we enter a city we start with one or two people and we make sure that they get

people and we make sure that they get

people and we make sure that they get what they need they have one coordinator

what they need they have one coordinator

what they need they have one coordinator and nine managers do you know how many

and nine managers do you know how many

and nine managers do you know how many people it actually takes to help one

people it actually takes to help one

people it actually takes to help one person get off the street in six to

person get off the street in six to

person get off the street in six to twelve months thirty thirty people

twelve months thirty thirty people

twelve months thirty thirty people dedicate him one hour a week to a

dedicate him one hour a week to a

dedicate him one hour a week to a stranger that they don’t know and to

stranger that they don’t know and to

stranger that they don’t know and to that homeless person who doesn’t

that homeless person who doesn’t

that homeless person who doesn’t necessarily have to trust them and the

necessarily have to trust them and the

necessarily have to trust them and the result is that there have been four

result is that there have been four

result is that there have been four people that have gotten out of the

people that have gotten out of the

people that have gotten out of the street because of what we’re doing some

street because of what we’re doing some

street because of what we’re doing some people have the opportunity thanks to

people have the opportunity thanks to

people have the opportunity thanks to government pay checks but the majority

government pay checks but the majority

government pay checks but the majority is employment homeless entrepreneur is a

is employment homeless entrepreneur is a

is employment homeless entrepreneur is a homeless person who wants to tell their

homeless person who wants to tell their

homeless person who wants to tell their story which creates transparency and

story which creates transparency and

story which creates transparency and credibility which brings people together

credibility which brings people together

credibility which brings people together and work hard to get off the street the

and work hard to get off the street the

and work hard to get off the street the majority like outside and normal society

majority like outside and normal society

majority like outside and normal society will be employees but the

will be employees but the

will be employees but the intrapreneurial spirit and mindset

intrapreneurial spirit and mindset

intrapreneurial spirit and mindset allows them to be motivated and smile

allows them to be motivated and smile

allows them to be motivated and smile which gets people involved and that’s

which gets people involved and that’s

which gets people involved and that’s the main difference

the main difference

the main difference it’s not about just putting a roof over

it’s not about just putting a roof over

it’s not about just putting a roof over their head it’s not what it’s about is

their head it’s not what it’s about is

their head it’s not what it’s about is giving them an opportunity to be active

giving them an opportunity to be active

giving them an opportunity to be active citizens turning liabilities into assets

citizens turning liabilities into assets

citizens turning liabilities into assets turning donations into deposits when you

turning donations into deposits when you

turning donations into deposits when you put a donation in you’re never going to

put a donation in you’re never going to

put a donation in you’re never going to see anything back but if you make it a

see anything back but if you make it a

see anything back but if you make it a deposit and they return even twenty five

deposit and they return even twenty five

deposit and they return even twenty five percent you’re creating 25 percent more

percent you’re creating 25 percent more

percent you’re creating 25 percent more wealth so you can help more people

hope is having a solid foundation in

hope is having a solid foundation in more than one sense a foundation like an

more than one sense a foundation like an

more than one sense a foundation like an NGO or foundation as a place to stay you

NGO or foundation as a place to stay you

NGO or foundation as a place to stay you have models like housing first which

have models like housing first which

have models like housing first which really help people get back into a house

really help people get back into a house

really help people get back into a house so they can focus again but we believe

so they can focus again but we believe

so they can focus again but we believe that homeless entrepreneur is essential

that homeless entrepreneur is essential

that homeless entrepreneur is essential to make sure that housing first really

to make sure that housing first really

to make sure that housing first really takes place 35% of the people that are

takes place 35% of the people that are

takes place 35% of the people that are homeless are there because they lost

homeless are there because they lost

homeless are there because they lost their job and what we are going to be

their job and what we are going to be

their job and what we are going to be doing in the near future is the

doing in the near future is the

doing in the near future is the Association will be there for the 40,000

Association will be there for the 40,000

Association will be there for the 40,000 homeless people in Spain so they have a

homeless people in Spain so they have a

homeless people in Spain so they have a place where they can speak and a place

place where they can speak and a place

place where they can speak and a place where people listen to them and working

where people listen to them and working

where people listen to them and working on building the foundation as well so

on building the foundation as well so

on building the foundation as well so that way we can raise the 30,000 euros

that way we can raise the 30,000 euros

that way we can raise the 30,000 euros that’s needed so that way we can deal

that’s needed so that way we can deal

that’s needed so that way we can deal with institutions in a more professional

with institutions in a more professional

with institutions in a more professional way hope is working if they’re not

way hope is working if they’re not

way hope is working if they’re not willing to sweat we won’t sweat either

willing to sweat we won’t sweat either

willing to sweat we won’t sweat either working is what gives them the

working is what gives them the

working is what gives them the opportunity to be active citizens tomas

opportunity to be active citizens tomas

opportunity to be active citizens tomas one of the homeless entrepreneurs right

one of the homeless entrepreneurs right

one of the homeless entrepreneurs right now he doesn’t have to work anymore he

now he doesn’t have to work anymore he

now he doesn’t have to work anymore he got a government paycheck so he’ll be

got a government paycheck so he’ll be

got a government paycheck so he’ll be making 1,100 a month he’s 57 years old

making 1,100 a month he’s 57 years old

making 1,100 a month he’s 57 years old he has no need to work with us but he

he has no need to work with us but he

he has no need to work with us but he receives value as friends and family and

receives value as friends and family and

receives value as friends and family and he’s forms part of our community which

he’s forms part of our community which

he’s forms part of our community which adds value to his life he is now working

adds value to his life he is now working

adds value to his life he is now working as a full-time volunteer to recruit

as a full-time volunteer to recruit

as a full-time volunteer to recruit future homeless entrepreneurs and

future homeless entrepreneurs and

future homeless entrepreneurs and transfer the knowledge that he has

transfer the knowledge that he has

transfer the knowledge that he has received in his experience to help other

received in his experience to help other

received in his experience to help other people get involved in society again

hope is Tomas unfortunately he wasn’t

hope is Tomas unfortunately he wasn’t able to come today because he couldn’t

able to come today because he couldn’t

able to come today because he couldn’t pay for the train ticket but on the 25th

pay for the train ticket but on the 25th

pay for the train ticket but on the 25th he’s going to be able to do something

he’s going to be able to do something

he’s going to be able to do something more important that he’s going to be

more important that he’s going to be

more important that he’s going to be able to pay for a place to stay

able to pay for a place to stay

able to pay for a place to stay Timaeus is widowed but he can still

Timaeus is widowed but he can still

Timaeus is widowed but he can still smile and by the end of the month he’s

smile and by the end of the month he’s

smile and by the end of the month he’s going to be smiling with a full set of

going to be smiling with a full set of

going to be smiling with a full set of teeth thanks to a place called dental

teeth thanks to a place called dental

teeth thanks to a place called dental residency instead of having to pay 3,000

residency instead of having to pay 3,000

residency instead of having to pay 3,000 euros for a budget for his teeth because

euros for a budget for his teeth because

euros for a budget for his teeth because he was missing a lot of them we brought

he was missing a lot of them we brought

he was missing a lot of them we brought it down to 1310 and 605 now he’s going

it down to 1310 and 605 now he’s going

it down to 1310 and 605 now he’s going to be able to smile and he’s going to be

to be able to smile and he’s going to be

to be able to smile and he’s going to be able to show people how he really feels

hope is that good-looking guy over there

hope is that good-looking guy over there from Brazil Beto

from Brazil Beto

from Brazil Beto he came to Spain looking for change and

he came to Spain looking for change and

he came to Spain looking for change and he didn’t have any change in his pocket

he didn’t have any change in his pocket

he didn’t have any change in his pocket he ended up in Park me at all which is

he ended up in Park me at all which is

he ended up in Park me at all which is next to plus espana for a few days his

next to plus espana for a few days his

next to plus espana for a few days his entrepreneurial spirit helped him sell

entrepreneurial spirit helped him sell

entrepreneurial spirit helped him sell tissues so he could buy a 500 euro

tissues so he could buy a 500 euro

tissues so he could buy a 500 euro camera how long would that take a normal

camera how long would that take a normal

camera how long would that take a normal person he was able to do it in less than

person he was able to do it in less than

person he was able to do it in less than a month because people gave him five ten

a month because people gave him five ten

a month because people gave him five ten even fifty euros because they weren’t

even fifty euros because they weren’t

even fifty euros because they weren’t buying the Kleenex that were buying his

buying the Kleenex that were buying his

buying the Kleenex that were buying his hope his desire his will to get off of

hope his desire his will to get off of

hope his desire his will to get off of the street and this is what gives me

the street and this is what gives me

the street and this is what gives me chills and this is what I hope gives you

chills and this is what I hope gives you

chills and this is what I hope gives you chills and moves you to action Beto

chills and moves you to action Beto

chills and moves you to action Beto what does hope mean to you hope he is

what does hope mean to you hope he is

what does hope mean to you hope he is doing what I love samaya

last but not least for us hope is

last but not least for us hope is homeless entrepreneur thank you very

homeless entrepreneur thank you very

homeless entrepreneur thank you very much

much

much [Applause]

[Applause]

[Applause] [Music]

[Music]

[Music] [Applause]

[Applause]

[Applause] [Music]

”

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