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​Homeless Man Thrives After Being Given Second Chance By Business Owner

​Homeless Man Thrives After Being Given Second Chance By Business Owner

Kriss Wilkes used to sleep rough in shop doorways, but now has a place to live and a steady job thanks to one kind business owner

Jess Hardiman

Jess Hardiman

A garage owner has helped change the life of a homeless man after seeing him begging on the street outside - offering him a job, a home and fresh clothes.

The DAC Car Wash owner, 29-year-old Shezad Zaman, said he used to pass Kriss Wilkes, 23, on the street in Sparkbrook in Birmingham.

But one day Kriss' life was turned around when Shezad offered him a two-week trial at the car wash, before also finding him accommodation.

Speaking to the Birmingham Mail, Shezad said that he wanted to step in as we all 'have to help each other' - and that if he didn't help him, he wasn't sure who would. He added that Kriss had apparently been let down by a lot of people, and as he was homeless couldn't even claim Jobseeker's allowance.

"I saw Kriss on the street right outside the garage when I used to finish work," Shezad said.

"He would be collecting money by the traffic lights and I said to him, 'You're a local lad, you don't need to be doing this, come and work for us instead.'

BPM Media

"He came in for a two-week trial and worked hard and showed me he was capable of doing what we do. He now works part-time and I have found him a room in one of my son's houses.

"Kriss has had a lot of setbacks but I wanted to give him a chance to make something of his life.

"He's happy and enjoying working with us."

After smashing his two-week trial, Kriss is now working part-time detailing cars, which requires cleaning, restoring and finishing them. He's also appeared in a video posted to the car wash's Facebook page, where he dances and raps about the business.

BPM Media

"I was a homeless man a few months ago. I was addicted to drugs but now I'm clean," Kriss explained. "I used to sleep rough in my car or in shop doorways, in town."

He added: "When my dad died I came back and my head was a bit gone.

"I used to sit at some traffic lights on the Stratford Road in Birmingham and beg until one day when my gaffer, Shezad, came over and gave me a chance. He got me a room sorted and got me a job.

"He got me fresh clothes, trainers, shoes and basically I'm living alright and I've sorted myself out and I'm getting there."

Shezad continued: "He's been an amazing part of our team and we want him to be successful because he's got his life ahead of him."

Good on the pair of you - nice to see there are still some good folk out there in the world.

Featured Image Credit: BPM Media

Topics: UK News, Birmingham, Inspirational, Interesting, Feels, UK, Homeless