Real Stories: Meet Rashid

categories: Interviews, Stories from the Streets, Tent City Tour

Published October 08, 2009 @ 06:11PM PT

For 23 years, Rashid worked in New York City as a construction worker. On 9/11, he arrived at the World Trade Center at 9:28 in the morning and - for the next four years - worked to clean up the horrific destruction at Ground Zero.

Today, as a result of his service, he suffers chronic heart failure and other health issues. He lost his health, his job, and his ability to pay rent. Today, Rashid lives in a homeless shelter.

Despite his tragic story, Rashid was one of the nicest people I met in New York. He went out of his way to encourage everyone around him.

This is how he chooses to live; he said a little bit of kindness can go a long way.

Rashid had three wishes: food, clothing, and shelter.

Seems we should not have to wish for things so basic.

Rashid from InvisiblePeople.tv on Vimeo.

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Comments (1)

its just sad that a fine man like him help during horrific times and all he gets from the government is a kick in the ass and a come again ......

Posted by ramon rivera on 10/08/2009 @ 07:35PM PT
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Author

Sixteen years ago, Mark Horvath was homeless on the streets of Hollywood. Today, he works in marketing/communications and is an activist for the homeless. He vlogs at invisiblepeople.tv and blogs at hardlynormal.com.