Colorado Homeless Man Plans to Buy a Home With $500,000 Lottery Win
— -- A 60-year-old Colorado man who has been staying at a homeless shelter for more than four years is now a $500,000 lottery winner.
Michael Engfors, of Aspen, Colo., purchased a $10 scratch-off lottery ticket at a local grocery story in Aspen last week, according to a spokesman for the Aspen Homeless Shelter.
Engfors, who does occasional construction work, purchased the ticket on his own but had the shelter’s director, Dr. Vince Savage, drive him to the lottery office on Monday to collect his prize.
Kelly Tabor, a spokeswoman for the Colorado Lottery, confirms that a man named Michael E. claimed the $500,000 grand prize on Monday.
She said Engfors won the last of three grand prizes on the “Eternal Splendor” scratch-off lottery game. The odds of winning one of the top prizes was one in 840,000, according to Tabor.
“We cut him a check and he was on his way,” Tabor told ABC News, adding that Engfors took home $355,000 after taxes.
Engfors, who could not be reached for comment by ABC News, plays the lottery occasionally, usually buying $1 tickets, according to the Aspen Homeless Shelter.
“He plans to find a place to live, and wants to re-connect with his daughter who he hasn't seen in over 20 years,” said a shelter spokesperson.
