>>> HIS NON-PROFIT LAUNCHED ONE OF THE PRIVATELY FUNDED PILOT PROGRAMS, GIVING UNHOUSED PEOPLE A BASIC INCOME HERE IN THE BAY AREA. NOW HE'S SHARING HOW THE GROUND BREAKING PROGRAM IS MAKING A DIFFERENCE. SHARON CHIN HAS AN UPDATE ON A 2018 JEFFERSON AWARD WINNER. >> YES, IT'S HIS LATE UNCLE WHO WAS ON AND OFF THE STREETS FOR 30 YEARS. KEVIN SAYS GIVING THE UNHOUSED INCOME AND SUPPORT ARE PRODUCING SOME MIRACLES. >> Reporter: ANDRES HAS A HUG FOR KEVIN, A MAN WHO HAS CHANGED HIS LIFE. >> I'VE SEEN ANDRES IN A MUCH BETTER SPOT THAN HE WAS A YEAR AGO. >> HEY, MUCHO GUSTO AMIGO. >> WE WERE THERE WHEN THEY FIRST MET FACE TO FACE. KEVIN'S MIRACLE MESSAGE NON-PROFIT CONNECTS UNHOUSED PEOPLE LIKE ANDRES WITH FAMILY MEMBERS FOR SUPPORT. AT THE TIME, ANDRES WAS RECOVERING FROM FOUR SURGERIES AFTER HE FELL SCALING THE WALL AT MEXICAN BORDER. AND HE ACCEPTED A GIFT FROM KEN'S NONPROFIT. HE WAS CHOSEN AS MORE THAN 100 PEOPLE IN THE BAY AREA AND LOS ANGELES TO GET $750 IN MONTHLY INCOME FOR A YEAR TO USE AS THEY SAW FIT. A YEAR LATER THAT BASIC INCOME WAS A BLESSING THAT HE USED TO BUY A BICYCLE AS HE GETS AROUND. HE AWAITS HIS TURN ON THE GOVERNMENT HOUSING LIST. HE HELPS WITH FAMILY EMERGENCIES AND GAVE TO THOSE WITH EVEN LESS. >> AND HE WOULD WALK ON THE STREETS AND HAVE PEOPLE SAY I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO EAT. CAN YOU GIVE ME MONEY? HE WOULD GIVE THEM OUT TO OTHER PEOPLE. >> THE RECIPIENT SAYS THEY WILL SPEND A THIRD OF THE MONEY ON FOOD FOLD BY TRANSPORTATION AND HEALTH CARE. FEWER REMAINED UNSHELTERED. >> AFTER SIX MONTHS OF $750 A MONTH FOR JUST SIX MONTHS, THAT NUMBER WENT FROM 30% DOWN TO 12%. >> Reporter: AS PART OF THE PROGRAM, KEVIN AND ANDRES FORMED A FRIENDSHIP NOW LIKE FAMILY. KEVIN GAVE ANDRES AN INVITATION TO HIS WEDDING, BUT HE ALSO FOUND HIS LONG LOST MOTHER IN TEXAS. ANDRES NEVER MADE IT IF YOU MADE IT HERE 31 YEARS AGO. RECONNECTING THE MOTHER AND SON BY PHONE. >> SHE WAS CRYING AND APOLOGIZING, AGO DON'T WORRY. I LOVE YOU, MOM. DON'T FEEL BAD. DON'T FEEL SORRY. >> Reporter: ANDRES TALKS WITH HIM MOM. THE UNION OF THEIR REUNION. >> MY HOPE AND VISION WITH THIS WORK IS NO ONE GOES THROUGH HOMELESSNESS ALONE. >> Reporter: NEXT, KEVIN PLANS FOR ANDRES AND HIS MOM TO MEET FOR THE FIRST HUG AND IN-PERSON VISIT IN DECADES. KEVIN ALSO WROTE A BOOK, WHEN WE WALK BY. HE'S PARTNERING WITH USC ON THE BASIC INCOME PROGRAM AND THEY HOPE TO HAVE FINAL RESULTS SHOWING THE IMPACT OF THE YEAR LONG PROJECT BY THE YEAR'S END. >> AMAZING. AND TO SEE THAT FULL CIRCLE MOMENT. >> YEAH. >> THAT INITIAL MEETING WHEN HE GETS THAT FIRST BIT OF MONEY AND HOW HE KEPT PAYING IT FORWARD. NOW SEEING HIM RECONNECT WITH HIS MOTHER AND SEEING THEIR RELATIONSHIP GROW. WHAT A STORY. >> RIGHT. AND ALL THOSE ELEMENTS ARE NEEDED ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU SUPPORT PEOPLE WHO ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, RIGHT? YOU NEED THE INCOME. YOU NEED THE EMOTIONAL SUPPORT. AND THEN YOU NEED YOUR FAMILY AS WELL. >> OH, WHAT A STORY. THANK YOU, SHARON.
