サンディ・シュックさんはアルコールにも麻薬にも溺れていない。それどころか、モスクワにいた時はロシア語を勉強し、コンピュータサイエンスの学位を持っているという。
「ウクライナで起きているニュースを追いかけるのが好きなんだ」と、シュックさんは図書館を出る時に語った。その日はネットの接続が遅かったとこぼしていた。
テキサス州オースティンでホームレスをしているシュックさんは、動画制作アーティストのジョセフ・コステロがアップしたYouTube動画で取り上げられた人物だ。この動画はすでに15万回以上再生されている。コステロがシュックさんから1日間撮影許可を得て制作したこの動画は、シュックさんの半生を凝縮した内容となっている。彼は段ボール紙とダクトテープで作られたその場しのぎのシェルターホームで夜を明かし、湿っていない靴下があるだけで喜びを感じる人だ。
彼を助けたいという視聴者からの声に応え、コステロは「GoFundMe」というファンドレイジングのサイトでページを立ち上げ、シュックさんに救いの手を差し伸べることにした。コステロは、シュックさんが彼の家族と再会し、仕事を探す手伝いができるだけの資金を集めたいと思っている。
11月23日の時点で、77人のサポーターから1225ドルの資金が集まっている。
ロシアのニュースサイトロシアタイムズでも述べられているように、シュックさんがどのような理由でホームレスになったかについては明言されていないが、数年前にある宗教団体との確執で精神的なダメージを負い、今もそれに苦しんでいるという。
「撮影された自分を見ると、思っていたより歳をとっているな」とシュックさんは語った。そして「誰にでも老いはやって来る。そして時間は過ぎていく。でもチャンスを逃してはいけない。チャンスは二度と来ないんだ」と、シュックさんは寝る前に視聴者に向かって語りかけた。
ホームレスの支援団体「エンディング・コミュニティ・ホームレス連合」（Ending Community Homelessness Coalition：ECHO）が実施した2014年の調査によるとオースティンには2000人ほどのホームレスがいるが、同市はここ数年行ってきた対策が成功している。2014年の調査で、オースティンのホームレス人口が4年連続で減少したと地元ラジオ局のKUTが報じている。そして10月には、2015年末までに退役軍人のホームレスを撲滅すると宣言するアメリカの都市の1つとしてオースティンが名乗りを上げた。これは、6月にミシェル・オバマ大統領夫人によって始められた全国的な取り組みである。
Man, 90, Arrested For Feeding Homeless
Feeding the Homeless Arrests(01 of17)
Homeless advocate Arnold Abbott, 90, director of the nonprofit group Love Thy Neighbor Inc., right, places a casserole in the oven while preparing food in the kitchen of The Sanctuary Church, Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2014, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Abbott was recently arrested along with two pastors for feeding the homeless in a Fort Lauderdale park. Police said they violated a new ordinance that limits where charitable groups can feed the homeless on public property in Fort Lauderdale. Abbott plans to feed the homeless Wednesday in a public parking lot. At left is Stanley Jackson, assistant director of Love Thy Neighbor Inc. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Feeding the Homeless Arrests(02 of17)
Homeless advocate Arnold Abbott, 90, director of the nonprofit group Love Thy Neighbor Inc., prepares a salad in the kitchen of The Sanctuary Church, Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2014, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Abbott was recently arrested along with two pastors for feeding the homeless in a Fort Lauderdale park. Police said they violated a new ordinance that limits where charitable groups can feed the homeless on public property in Fort Lauderdale. Abbott plans to feed the homeless Wednesday in a public parking lot. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Feeding the Homeless Arrests(03 of17)
Homeless advocate Arnold Abbott, 90, director of the nonprofit group Love Thy Neighbor Inc., prepares a salad in the kitchen of The Sanctuary Church, Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2014, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Abbott was recently arrested along with two pastors for feeding the homeless in a Fort Lauderdale park. Police said they violated a new ordinance that limits where charitable groups can feed the homeless on public property in Fort Lauderdale. Abbott plans to feed the homeless Wednesday in a public parking lot. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Feeding the Homeless Arrests(04 of17)
Homeless advocate Arnold Abbott, 90, director of the nonprofit group Love Thy Neighbor Inc., places a casserole in the oven while preparing food in the kitchen of The Sanctuary Church, Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2014, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Abbott was recently arrested along with two pastors for feeding the homeless in a Fort Lauderdale park. Police said they violated a new ordinance that limits where charitable groups can feed the homeless on public property in Fort Lauderdale. Abbott plans to feed the homeless Wednesday in a public parking lot. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Feeding the Homeless Arrests(05 of17)
Homeless advocate Arnold Abbott, 90, of the nonprofit group Love Thy Neighbor Inc., left, is fingerprinted by a Fort Lauderdale police officer, Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2014, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Abbott and a group of volunteers were feeding the homeless in a public parking lot next to the beach when he was issued a summons to appear in court for violating an ordinance that limits where charitable groups can feed the homeless on public property. Abbott w also recently arrested along with two pastors for feeding the homeless in a Fort Lauderdale park. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Feeding the Homeless Arrests(06 of17)
Homeless advocate Arnold Abbott, 90, director of the nonprofit group Love Thy Neighbor Inc., right, serves food to the homeless from a public parking lot next to the beach, Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2014, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Abbott was later issued a summons to appear in court for violating an ordinance that limits where charitable groups can feed the homeless on public property. Abbott was also recently arrested along with two pastors for feeding the homeless in a Fort Lauderdale park. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Feeding the Homeless Arrests(07 of17)
Homeless advocate Arnold Abbott, 90, director of the nonprofit group Love Thy Neighbor Inc., left, is kissed by a supporter as he arrives to serve food to the homeless from a public parking lot next to the beach, Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2014, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Abbott was later issued a summons to appear in court for violating an ordinance that limits where charitable groups can feed the homeless on public property. Abbott was also recently arrested along with two pastors for feeding the homeless in a Fort Lauderdale park. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Feeding the Homeless Arrests(08 of17)
Suzanne Haines Walsh, 60, who is homeless, second from right, waits with others to be fed a meal by homeless advocate Arnold Abbott, on a public parking lot next to the beach, Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2014, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Abbott, 90, director of the nonprofit group Love Thy Neighbor Inc., feeds the homeless on a regular basis and was later issued a summons to appear in court for violating an ordinance that limits where charitable groups can feed the homeless on public property. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Feeding the Homeless Arrests(09 of17)
Homeless advocate Arnold Abbott, 90, director of the nonprofit group Love Thy Neighbor Inc., left, is hugged by a supporter as he arrives to serve food to the homeless from a public parking lot next to the beach, Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2014, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Abbott was later issued a summons to appear in court for violating an ordinance that limits where charitable groups can feed the homeless on public property. Abbott was also recently arrested along with two pastors for feeding the homeless in a Fort Lauderdale park. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Feeding the Homeless Arrests(10 of17)
Homeless advocate Arnold Abbott, 90, of the nonprofit group Love Thy Neighbor Inc., center, gets his drivers license to hand to a Fort Lauderdale police officer, Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2014, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Abbott and a group of volunteers were feeding the homeless in a public parking lot next to the beach when he was issued a summons to appear in court for violating an ordinance that limits where charitable groups can feed the homeless on public property. Abbott w also recently arrested along with two pastors for feeding the homeless in a Fort Lauderdale park. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Feeding the Homeless Arrests(11 of17)
Homeless advocate Arnold Abbott, 90, director of the nonprofit group Love Thy Neighbor Inc., center, serves food to the homeless with the help of volunteers from a public parking lot next to the beach, Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2014, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Abbott was later issued a summons to appear in court for violating an ordinance that limits where charitable groups can feed the homeless on public property. Abbott was also recently arrested along with two pastors for feeding the homeless in a Fort Lauderdale park. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Feeding the Homeless Arrests(12 of17)
Suzanne Haines Walsh, 60, who is homeless, left, gets a meal from volunteers working with homeless advocate Arnold Abbott, at a public parking lot next to the beach, Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2014, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Abbott, 90, director of the nonprofit group Love Thy Neighbor Inc., feeds the homeless on a regular basis and was later issued a summons to appear in court for violating an ordinance that limits where charitable groups can feed the homeless on public property. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Feeding the Homeless Arrests(13 of17)
The homeless stand in line for a meal from volunteers working with homeless advocate Arnold Abbott, at a public parking lot next to the beach, Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2014, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Abbott, 90, director of the nonprofit group Love Thy Neighbor Inc., feeds the homeless on a regular basis and was later issued a summons to appear in court for violating an ordinance that limits where charitable groups can feed the homeless on public property. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Feeding the Homeless Arrests(14 of17)
Homeless advocate Arnold Abbott, 90, of the nonprofit group Love Thy Neighbor Inc.,right, walks with a Fort Lauderdale police officer, Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2014, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Abbott and a group of volunteers were feeding the homeless in a public parking lot next to the beach when he was issued a summons to appear in court for violating an ordinance that limits where charitable groups can feed the homeless on public property. Abbott was also recently arrested along with two pastors for feeding the homeless in a Fort Lauderdale park. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Feeding the Homeless Arrests(15 of17)
Homeless advocate Arnold Abbott, 90, of the nonprofit group Love Thy Neighbor Inc., center, walks with a Fort Lauderdale police officer, Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2014, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Abbott and a group of volunteers were feeding the homeless in a public parking lot next to the beach when he was issued a summons to appear in court for violating an ordinance that limits where charitable groups can feed the homeless on public property. Abbott was also recently arrested along with two pastors for feeding the homeless in a Fort Lauderdale park. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Feeding the Homeless Arrests(16 of17)
Homeless advocate Arnold Abbott, 90, of the nonprofit group Love Thy Neighbor Inc.,right, shakes hands with a Fort Lauderdale police officer, left, Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2014, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Abbott and a group of volunteers were feeding the homeless in a public parking lot next to the beach when he was issued a summons to appear in court for violating an ordinance that limits where charitable groups can feed the homeless on public property. Abbott w also recently arrested along with two pastors for feeding the homeless in a Fort Lauderdale park. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Feeding the Homeless Arrests(17 of17)
Homeless advocate Arnold Abbott, 90, director of the nonprofit group Love Thy Neighbor Inc., right, serves food to the homeless from a public parking lot next to the beach, Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2014, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Abbott was later issued a summons to appear in court for violating an ordinance that limits where charitable groups can feed the homeless on public property. Abbott was also recently arrested along with two pastors for feeding the homeless in a Fort Lauderdale park. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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