HOUSTON — Until a few weeks ago, Tim Edwards was just another guy begging for change at a busy Houston underpass, ignored by most drivers who sped past.
Now, thanks to an Internet marketing campaign and unlikely allies, Edwards has become the human face of homelessness to thousands of people drawn to his website by its deliberately controversial name — Pimp This Bum.
During regular webcasts, dozens of visitors to ask questions about Edwards’ life and his slow fall from office manager with a home, a car and a future to an outcast short of hope and with little prospect of help. Visitors also can donate money, services and goods to help Edwards yank himself out of homelessness.
“I’m the world’s first online bum,” said Edwards, 37, who talks about life on the streets with a mix of dark humor and unvarnished honesty. “The whole idea of this project is to get people off the street. I’m the pioneer, but I’ve got friends behind me. If I don’t get this right, it ain’t gonna work for them.”
This week, Edwards is scheduled to enter an alcohol detox program at the Seattle-based Sunray Treatment and Recovery, which is providing the $13,800, 35-day program free of charge.
![[prison 19] Caption: This is Cellhouse 1, Pod A, from ground level inside the Sterling Correctional Facility which is located outside of Sterling, Colorado Thursday afternoon. Photographer: LEW SHERMAN Title: FREELANCE Credit: SPECIAL TO THE POST City: Sterling State: CO Country: USA Date: 19990617 ObjectName: prison 19 Keyword: PUBDATE____1999_06_22](/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/20151207__denverpostp1.jpg?w=538 "20151207__denverpost~p1.jpg")
