Homeless man makes locals laugh

A homeless man in the US has turned the tables on his grim situation by making passers-by laugh with his unique and humorous way of begging.

Down and out, Jeff Stevens turned to asking strangers for money when he could not earn enough to make ends meet.

"I used to hold a sign that was 'Homeless' and that didn't really work for me", Jeff Stevens told Bay News 9.

When that failed to attract sufficient charity, he got creative.

"I started coming up with comedy things and trying to make people laugh," he said. "It just brightens their day."

Now he has become somewhat of a fixture in his Tampa Bay neighbourhood where he positions himself at the same intersection every Sunday.

Some of his signs include: "Wife + pet tiger abducted. Need help w/ ransom to save my lovable tiger. They can have wife, so much quieter at home. Anything helps!" and, "Family abducted by aliens. Need help to rent the space shuttle to rescue them!"

Mr Stevens, who also performs for people, told the news team how one child even approached him to donate a small amount of change he had saved up.

"If I don't make a dollar or anything, it feels good right here just to see somebody smile," he said.

Since he began asking strangers for money he has managed to gather enough money to put a roof over his head.

Mr Stevens is hoping to one day get back on his feet and back into his old job of "travelling (with) the circus and performing with the wild cats".

Source: Bay News 9 

Author: Natasha Lee, Approving editor: Kieran Campbell