ASPEN — For years, Michael Engfors built the wood trim, doors and shelves in the mansions in this exclusive resort town before losing work during the recession and eventually becoming homeless about five years ago. But his luck changed last week when he took $10 that he earned working odd jobs to buy a scratch ticket and hit the $500,000 jackpot.
Vince Savage, who runs the Aspen Homeless Shelter where Engfors had been staying, said he drove the 61-year-old to a Colorado Lottery claims office in Grand Junction on Monday and he walked out with a check for somewhere between $300,000 and $400,000 after taxes. He said they drove right to Engfors’ bank to deposit the winnings in a checking account that had less than a dollar in it.
“This is a guy who has been at it for years and struggling for years,” Savage said. Engfors hoped to travel to New York to reunite with his adult daughter he hasn’t seen in at least 15 years.
