B.C. homeless man Steve Borik wins lotto, but can't claim prize because he lacks ID

A homeless man inVancouver who won the lottery says he can't claim his prize because he doesn't have any identification.

It's almost like a plot from a Hollywood movie.

SteveBorik, 57,won $25,000 in July on a $8 Keno ticket he had decided to play on a whim a game hesaid he hadnever played before.

Then, the twist.

"Lotto BC won'tcash my ticket because I don'thave photo ID," saidBorik.

Boriksaid hehasn't had proper identification for a couple of years,since he lost it during a time of upheaval in his life. He said he hasn't needed ituntil now.

But he can't get photo identification without a birth certificate from his birth town of Montreal, Que., and he can't get a birth certificate without photo identification.

The dilemma has left him, literally, out in the cold.

"I would love to be inside for Christmas. That was my plan in July, when I won the money," he said.

"If I'd got my ticket cashed today, I'd give a thousand dollars to the Gospel Mission to help other homeless people."

Papers filed

After five months ofBoriktrying to get identification, CBC got involved.

CBC News made calls to several provincial and federalministries, and finally one of them landed in the right office.

A provincial government staffer said a woman in NDP MLACaroleJames' office knew how to get a Quebec birth certificate. She had done it before for other homeless people.

The appropriate papers wereemailedto Vancouver within hours.Borikfilled out the information only he could provide andsigned the papers, which were on their way to Quebec by the end of the day.

The birth certificate should arrive in approximately three weeks.Borikwill be able to use it to get photo identification. Then, he will return to the B.C. Lottery Corporation office to collect his winnings.

The windfall, he said, will give him a new beginning, a real roof over his head, and the courage to reach out to his family.

Surviving day to day

Hard times have doggedBorikfor several years since his marriage fell apart and he fell into medical issues and depression.

Despite that, "I've never been on welfare. I will not go on welfare. I just take care of myself,"saidBorik.

He said he survives on day-to-day work that he picks up going to temporary labour agencies.

Last May,Borikwas wasdiscovered living in a makeshift home under a treein a clearing on the edge of theFraserRiver in south Vancouver. He had built the shelter himself with salvaged building supplies and tarps.

It was on private property, however, andBorikwas forced to leave what he called a bit of paradise. Offers of subsidized housing never materialized.

Now, he's found another location to pitch his tent, but he won't say exactly where, for fear of being ousted again.