Forgotten bank account gives homeless man a new start

TAMPA, Fla. -- A forgotten bank account and help from two strangers has given a homeless man a new life in Tampa, Florida.

John Helinski, 62, was homeless for three years, sleeping under benches near a bus stop, WFTS reports.

Now he's got a locker and a bed and so much more at the 24-7 one-stop-shop Housing Center for Homeless in Hillsborough County.

But his story gets way better than that.

Needing identification, Helinski's case manager, Charles Inman, and Tampa Police Officer Dan MacDonald set out to get Helinski a driver's license and a Social Security card. In a search for his information, they found an old forgotten bank account of Helinski's.

The Bank of America account had a substantial amount of money in it from Social Security benefits that piled up for years. It was enough to buy Helinski permanent housing.

Helinskit said, ""I guess I'm exhilarated, excited, you know."

Officer MacDonald said, "I think we were both stunned. We weren't quite sure what to say."