California lawyer gives up home to homeless family for a year

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A California lawyer is giving up his fully-furnished home in Los Angeles for a homeless family to live in for a year, according to the New York Daily News.

Tony Tolbert, 51, says that his act of kindness just feels like the right thing to do.

“You don’t have to be Bill Gates or Warren Buffet or Oprah,” Tolbert told CBS News. “We can do it wherever we are, with whatever we have, and for me, I have a home that I can make available.”

Tolbert will move back in with his mother for the year and continue working. It was in his mother’s house that Tolbert says he learned to be a giving and caring young man.

Growing up Tolbert says that his father always lent the family’s spare bedroom to someone in need.

Tolbert’s dad now suffers from Alzheimer’s disease, but the lessons his dad taught him stuck with Tolbert.

“He is so giving, he’s always been that way,” Tony’s mom, Marie Tolbert, told CBS News.

Tolbert found the family he is giving his house up to in a local shelter. He met Felicia Dukes, who was broke and having a hard time providing for four children. The oldest child wasn’t even allowed to stay at the shelter that was only for children and women.

Dukes couldn’t believe the fate that she had suddenly been afforded when she was initially told.

“They had a young man that wanted to donate their house to you for a year,” she recalled. “And I’m looking at her, like, what? Like — Are you serious?”

Dukes’ family would be able all live together once again and get back on their feet.

“My heart just fills up,” Dukes said. “I’m just really happy.”

Tolbert says ultimately he hopes his story encourages others to give and think about others more than themselves.

“Kindness creates kindness. Generosity creates generosity. Love creates love,” Tolbert said. “And I think if we can share some of that and have more stories about people doing nice things for other people, and fewer stories about people doing horrible things to other people, that’s a better world.”

Follow Marquise Francis on Twitter @mKfly