By Craig Wall, FOX Chicago News

Chicago - A year ago, everything was going right for a woman we'll call Sandy.

She had a good job at a bank in the suburbs.

She and her 10-year-old son had a safe home.

But then the world came crashing down around the 39-year-old. She lost her job. She lost her house. And she and her son moved into her truck. Police found her and DCFS threatened to take away her son if she didn't find a safe place to stay.

She moved into a hotel with the help of a social worker who paid for a few nights stay with her own money. That's when Sandy's knight in shining armor showed up. And he's kept showing up, every day, paying her hotel bill, so she and her son can stay off the streets.

But Sandy's Good Samaritan isn't a Chicago big shot. He isn't living in a Loop highrise. He doesn't even have a job.

Sandy's Good Samaritan is Curtis Jackson, who's been homeless since 2004. He pays for Sandy's hotel room because she used to treat him with dignity and kindness when she did have a house -- and he pays for it by panhandling and giving the money to her.

"All I can do is get out there and put a sign in my hand, or put a cup in my hand and ask people to help me out, and everything I get, except maybe bus fare and something to eat, I give it to her," Jackson said as he stood at the corner of 55th and Harlem.

Jackson pays the nightly bill by pouring his bucket of change on the hotel counter. Since December, he's raised $9,000, and he's given it all to Sandy. He said sometimes 40, 70, a hundred cars go by before someone gives him a few pennies or a few bucks.

Sandy can't believe it.

"I've donated to charities, I've helped other homeless families -- never realizing that one day we'd be in this situation," she said. "So thank God that we did have an angel waiting for us."

Jackson said he's a man of faith; homeless, but not hopeless, and he's got some words of wisdom for the people he sees bustling by every day.

"I have God. I'm one of the richest men on this earth, 'cause I have God," he said. "Money is not my master. That's what's wrong with this world: money is its master."

Sandy said she doesn't think she'll ever be able to repay Jackson, who's become like a brother.

"I'm out here for a purpose: to help someone, and that's all I'm trying to do is help someone that needs help right at this moment," he said. "And once she doesn't need help anymore, I'll move on to something else."

(there's a video on the link)

http://www.myfoxchicago.c...l-20110511

That is such a beautiful and true story. People are slaves of money. And it goes to show that sometimes what goes aroud, does come around! And moreover, it shows that all these people passing by the homeless guy; one day it could be you, it's not that far away.

I have good contact with most of the homeless around in the neighbourhood. I'm happy for them the summer starts, because it was very cold this winter. And it's a harsh life on the streets. It's so heartwarming to learn that this guy does everything he can to make sure the woman and her child don't need to sleep on the street!

so now we like panhandlers?

and the homeless people i've

heard so many bad things about

on the .org?

you know,

like when they get on the bus next to you.

when they talk to themselves, then wanna

include you in their conversation?

this lady made no judgement about this man,

and it has come back to serve her well, not bein 'better than'

good lesson for those folks that feel they are set in life.

remember drugs and alcohol are not all that put one on the streets these days. mental illness can get yo u there too.

but those whom do drugs and drink are not the scum of the earth either. some of them are the 'salt of the earth.

KingBAD said:

so now we like panhandlers?

and the homeless people i've

heard so many bad things about

on the .org?

you know,

like when they get on the bus next to you.

when they talk to themselves, then wanna

include you in their conversation?

this lady made no judgement about this man,

and it has come back to serve her well, not bein 'better than'

good lesson for those folks that feel they are set in life.

remember drugs and alcohol are not all that put one on the streets these days. mental illness can get yo u there too.

but those whom do drugs and drink are not the scum of the earth either. some of them are the 'salt of the earth.

There is no 'we' on the org. There is me and my opinions, same as every other individual on the org.

I don't like it when you throw other peoples past posts on the org as something that I've said.

dJJ said:

KingBAD said:

so now we like panhandlers?

and the homeless people i've

heard so many bad things about

on the .org?

you know,

like when they get on the bus next to you.

when they talk to themselves, then wanna

include you in their conversation?

this lady made no judgement about this man,

and it has come back to serve her well, not bein 'better than'

good lesson for those folks that feel they are set in life.

remember drugs and alcohol are not all that put one on the streets these days. mental illness can get yo u there too.

but those whom do drugs and drink are not the scum of the earth either. some of them are the 'salt of the earth.

There is no 'we' on the org. There is me and my opinions, same as every other individual on the org.

I don't like it when you throw other peoples past posts on the org as something that I've said.

if i had been referrin to anything you may have said,

i would have done like you and hit the 'reply' spot...

i rarely have read anything you've written. don't make whut i say personal to yourself.

well this you can, it's to you

...How does a banker end up completely homeless?

I feel like an asshole for saying this as well, but - why would someone whose been homeless for years themselves, raise enough money to get off the street, and then give it all away - leaving THEMSELVES still without a roof over their head?

I'm not saying it's bad to help people out, not by any means - but when you're barely surviving yourself?

What a beautiful story! It's so nice to hear something positive when everything has been so negative lately.

armpit said:

...How does a banker end up completely homeless?

I feel like an asshole for saying this as well, but - why would someone whose been homeless for years themselves, raise enough money to get off the street, and then give it all away - leaving THEMSELVES still without a roof over their head?

I'm not saying it's bad to help people out, not by any means - but when you're barely surviving yourself?

Because the banks are in trouble too. Ironic as it is, when you don't pay the bank, they take everything you've got, regardless of who you are.

And as for your 2nd question, it's selfless. Maybe the man has found happiness regardless of his social standing, but I also think he feels like he "owes her" because she would help him when he was in need. He probably just wants to show her the same kindness she showed him.

Nice story.

Just because she worked in a bank doesn't mean she was rich..the actual day to day workers don't get paid much at all...its the gamblers or 'investment managers' which seem to take the cream, and those who bet on commodities making our energy, oil, chocolate and other food much more expensive.

God is great.