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Cashman Whiteley was pictured on the cover of a local newspaper back in August with a simple headline: "Cash Whiteley is a man." But his struggles are more complicated. The 59-year-old started to experience homelessness when his life spiraled out of control and he couldn't break out of it.

Until recently, he was living on the street and in need of medical help – then a group of people who didn't know each other stepped in. Whiteley believes they saved his life in the process.

The acts of humanity started with Carmen Flores and her partner, Tatiana Guerrero, who welcomed Whiteley into their home in January after seeing him on the street looking sick. He was sleeping in front of a church – "on a cement, cold slab," according to Flores.

"And the church didn't open its doors," Flores said. "I was like, 'OK, if our institutions aren't doing it, then we have to do something.'"

Read more: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/cashman-whiteley-man-no-home-treated-as-if-he-didnt-matter-group-of-people-helped-southern-california/

I'm homeless, people need to accept western churches don't help the homeless. Sikh/some eastern religion churches are the exception. Sanctuary is a scam, your collection plate goes right into the collectors pocket.

A group of people stopped this person from being thrown into the Orphan Crushing Machine, hurray!

Seeeeeeeee!!! The system isn't rigged after all!!

I have so much respect for the Sikh religion. They are among the few that walk the talk.

I'm not a religious person but the Sikh community amazes me.

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If you want to help as well there is a Go Fund Me for Mr. Whiteley: https://www.gofundme.com/f/sheltering-hands-for-cashman?qid=648eed667d70fc655953d1af38ab855c

not to blow my own horn (or the horn of my parents I should say) …but you could go to any Sikh temple and they would not turn you away.

I can’t buy into the whole organized religion thing, but I must say I’m also impressed with how Sikh/Muslim temples/mosques will open their doors during times of need.

Those private preacher jets aren't going to pay for themselves.

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I'm not sure if this helps any, but when my mom was homeless (she was a former drug addict and without me and my sister... complicated custody stuff), the local church helped her get back on her feet by giving her affordable housing, a car and legal help to win the custody battle against my dad (due to emotional abuse). I hope that gives you some positivity. There are some people doing good out there!

But I do agree that a lot of churches are run like big corporations; corrupt, with no care for the little guys. And I really do hope your situation improves soon as well :(

Another "orphan crushing machine" moment or is it just me?

I think it's necessary to point out that it's certain religious institutions, and the people who run them who are at fault. In high school, I did community service at a church that fed the homeless every day. That was 20 years ago and they still do it. My mom also helps with the church every day of the week. She goes and gives sick lonely elderly people company, brings food and gifts to low income families etcs. I was raised Catholic, and I'm not really religious, but I can say that there are still good people out there acting in good faith.

Yea, probably wrong to paint western churches with a broad brush like that. town I grew up in had two homeless shelters that also operated as soup kitchens all sponsored by the Catholic Church, so although they may not open their doors and let people sleep on the pew, most of the established religious networks will be funding charitable endeavors in some other way.

I have no stake in this, not a fan of religions but seen a lot of homeless shelters, clinics, outreach programs, etc sponsored by established religions.

This sub is starting to look more like r/OrphanCrushingMachine every day

Not a fault of this sub, it’s just the world we live in now I guess

kinda is the fault of the sub if they're constantly letting in OCM content

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Now? It's always been fucked, you just didn't hear about all the fucked shit everywhere 24/7

I want to know where this man’s family is (says he has three kids) and if they’re aware of his situation?

I think it truly depends on the church, and it’s administrative body.

I’m surprised the mods haven’t pinned this comment. I just donated. I’m hoping more of my fellow Redditors will consider to, as well.

This sub is lame, so full of negative comments :(

I was just looking for a place to read nice stories

Touching story...

There's a GoFundMe for him someone linked. Can anyone confirm that's legit? (EDIT: IT IS LEGIT. See the link to it below, also added here)

Also, I hate that it's necessary to use stories like this to make it clear, but this is what Capitalism and a For-Profit Healthcare system does to people.

This is why we need, at a bare minimum, free government housing for the homeless and socialized medicine (Medicare For All and laws heavily restricting for-profit companies buying hospitals... And probably new, federally-funded hospitals in rural areas where there are gaps in hospital coverage...)

Anyways, I hope Cashman continues to receive help! I'd really appreciate it if anyone could confirm the validity of the GoFundMe (re-posted link below), as I'd like to donate if it's legit...

GoFundMe for Cashman:

https://www.gofundme.com/f/sheltering-hands-for-cashman?qid=648eed667d70fc655953d1af38ab855c

EDIT: Confirmed myself this was the correct, legit, GoFundMe, by checking it matched with the link in this Claremont Courier article. It's rather disappointing I had to do this myself, and nobody cared enough to step in and confirm the link (which would have, besides saving me time, been a way to get someone else invested in this story and maybe willing to help Cashman as well...) Am donating to the GoFundMe, and I hope others will do the same... If I can donate it in a currently very distressed economic situation (due to having Long Covid and being too sick to work, plus piles of Student Loans), so can you...

This is a faux "upliftingnews" alá American standards.

"STARVING FAMILY GETS FREE FOOD!" this isn't uplifting, it's fucking insane that the family was starving to begin with.

Same here, this isn't solving or helping a problem, this is treating the symptoms whilst clapping eachother on the back whilst not at all addressing the actual cause.

Bud, my wife is a pastor and she fights with her church to get them to serve the community in these ways. I've come to the conclusion that the preponderance of Christians are the most vile hypocrites.

The church has 70k in the bank.

When the question of letting homosexuals lead came up they decided to leave the broader Methodist church. There were people tripping over themselves to donate for the costs of leaving over homosexuals in the church. But if there's a drive to do anything for the community. To home someone or fix a person's home or health... Nothing.

As a Christian I'm just as disgusted as you.

That said, what are your practical needs. How can I help?

It's too late for me. Help someone else.

Edit: I don't mean to sound ungrateful or pessimistic, it's been several years for me out here. I can no longer sleep inside, it fills me with a similar dread and anxiety one would have for sleeping outdoors. You sound like you want to help and I hope you have a nice weekend.

I understand that. I once toured across country on bicycle and I found a house an excessive want for a few years after. I simply wish our country would make it easier for people to make choices that don't result in criminalization or privation.

But more to my point, do you have what you need currently to live how you prefer?

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This is the epitome of it.

No. I live in a vehicle. Employment has never been a problem. I don't have any substance issues. Ive never been convicted of anything, ive technically been arrested a few times, is part of the life, in the wrong place a lot of the time but my point is no criminal history either. I had a medical issue cost me my job and i had no safety net of any kind. There was a window where i couldve made good use of assistance but that window is closed. I am trying to be a normal housed person as I now have a niece and I have an opportunity to be a good uncle. Basically, a goal. I do not wish to impose my situation on my brother, he has tried to help and i dont want my nieces early memories of me to be me crying in their guest room. Its been many years since ive slept inside anywhere. It is difficult to explain, and i realize it is irrational and safer than my current situation. But i cant relax, i end up finding myself in a defensive stance, covering my face, random adrenaline, terrified of nothing, its quite sad. I am struggling to adjust, and finding a month to month rental situation every other year only to continue sleeping in a vehicle and hanging outside all the time is both financially draining and a bit heartbreaking. I believe I need therapy but have been failed by the low access medical system as my efforts have been counterproductive to say the least. It's been too long, the man I was is dead and the man I have become is still strange to me.

I totally get that. I really do. Not to your level. Would having a camper be a midway step?

Deep breath bud. They actually agree with you.

The vast majority of us are in no position to instantly fix systemic problems.

However we do have the power to feed a hungry family for a day. (I'm using your example)

If you and I were walking down the street and you gave your share of food to some stranger because they needed it, id say that small act of kindness was uplifting too.

Does that small act fix the systemic issue that's leading to starving people? No. But at the very least you're acknowledging that you believe it's wrong. You're using the small amount of power you have to fix a fraction of a symptom, for a moment. And that's uplifting.

Its uplifting to know there are good people in the world. Right now they may not have a lot of power. But maybe one day they will. And that's uplifting.

Yeah, it would. I've been working towards that. Is my next step towards being normal.