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Homeless man wins $500,000 on lottery ticket

Posted at 8:34 PM, Dec 08, 2015
and last updated 2015-12-08 20:34:48-05
Michael Engfors, a homeless man in Aspen, won $500,000 on a lottery scratch-off ticket. (Photo: Jeremy Kowalis/Aspen Homeless Shelter)

A homeless man in Aspen won $500,000 on a lottery scratch-off ticket. (Photo: Aspen Homeless Shelter)

A homeless man probably isn’t homeless anymore after winning $500,000 from a lottery scratch ticket.

The 61-year-old man bought the ticket at a gas station last week. He said he’s homeless because of financial hardships, including a divorce and the loss of his business.

“The man who won is a very humble and hardworking man who fell on hard times,” said Vince Savage with the Aspen Homeless Shelter.

Savage said the man, whose name is Michael, is shy and doesn’t want much attention.

“The shelter is determined to get him on the right path with this great gift he was given,” Savage said.

A clerk at the Aspen Shell station said Michael often buys $1 or $2 tickets, but on Friday, he spent $10 on tickets, the Aspen Timesreported.

A clerk at the Aspen Shell station confirmed Friday night that a man won a $500,000 scratch-off ticket purchased from the store.

“All the time, he’s outside,” clerk Gabby Garcia told the newspaper. “He comes in all the time with winning tickets.”