Woman invites homeless man home to give him a fresh start — changes his life overnight

You never really know how far a single act of kindness can take someone — it might not seem like much at the time, but for the person on the receiving end, it can shift the course of their life. In Melbourne, that moment came when Hilary Holmes, who goes by @hilaryholmesmakeup on Instagram, noticed a man sitting alone at a tram stop near her home. His belongings were tucked into plastic bags and stashed in the bushes. He wasn’t asking for help, but on Easter Sunday, she brought him food anyway. That decision would mark the beginning of a week that completely changed the life of a man named Daniel.

Holmes, a makeup artist, learned that Daniel had been living rough for months. In another post, she shared that after returning from Tasmania, where he’d previously had some support, Daniel had found himself back in Melbourne with no home and no safety net. He’d been robbed multiple times, losing everything, including his dentures, legal documents, and glasses. He had nowhere to go and no access to the medical care he desperately needed for diabetes, two hernias, and three tumors. What Daniel told Holmes left a lasting impression on her, so she invited Daniel into her home for Easter lunch and later shared his story with her Instagram followers. What followed was an outpouring of support.

She set up a GoFundMe, and within 12 hours, donations came in fast enough to get Daniel off the streets. In just a few days, the campaign raised over $31,000 AUD. With that help, Holmes was able to move Daniel into temporary accommodation, where he spent his "first night not sleeping rough in 8 months!" This support also gave Holmes and others time to help in other ways. She got him fitted for new glasses after learning he had trouble reading menus and forms. Holmes shared that he only had a t-shirt and shorts, and all he asked for was Sunday Mass clothes and some basics, but instead, he got infinite bags of clothes and supplies.

Not just that, Daniel also received home-cooked meals to help manage his health, plus, volunteers donated groceries and essentials. Holmes shared that the plan for the coming weeks includes dental work, sustainable care systems, and eventually, finding him a small campervan to live in — his own space to call home. With the help of strangers, Daniel’s days now look different. However, while Daniel got the help he needed, there are many others still waiting for that kind of support. According to the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s annual point-in-time report, an estimated 771,480 people were experiencing homelessness in the U.S. on a single night in January 2024.

Viewers were touched by Holmes' kind act and offered their thoughts and gratitude in the comments. @featherandnoise commented, "You are such a beautiful human, Hilary, and Daniel has the most gorgeous smile." @e_a_munro added, "The joy radiating off him in this video has brought me to tears… the magic of human connection." @simoneleigh22 wrote, "The best thing I’ve seen on socials for a long time. Bravo and best wishes to Daniel." @srsarabutler's shared, "Makes me quite tearful. This could be any one of us; any one of our children. How fantastic to see this."

You can follow Hilary Holmes (@hilaryholmesmakeup) on Instagram to follow along with Daniel's journey.