The tide is turning for a homeless man in Tāmaki Makaurau/Auckland, after more than $10,000 was raised to get him his own business premises in just two weeks.
Jonathan 'Patchy' Low was selling cups of instant coffee from a shopping trolley for just $1.50 at Te Komititanga Square.
But Auckland Council told Patchy two weeks ago he'd need the correct permits to continue mobile trading.
Now about 450 donors have contributed towards a Givealittle campaign set up to help him.
The original Givealittle page said Patchy's life took a turn when his car (and home) was stolen. It said he delivered Uber Eats meals, before turning to begging, and eventually started selling cheap coffees in the city centre. He quickly went viral on TikTok.
However under Auckland Council's 2020 Food Safety bylaw, most mobile food businesses are required to get a food registration, and a mobile trading licence, among other requirements.
Upon seeing Patchy's dilemma with the council, two Auckland women set up an online fundraiser so he could get the proper permits, more coffee supplies and eventually open a physical premises.
On Tuesday, Patchy posted an update on TikTok, showing off some new threads and a refreshed look.
"I'm running late for a meeting with the commercial real estate agent. I've got two different retail stores that I'm about to check out now," he said.
"Technically I still am homeless, still sleeping in the carpark. But I'm making business moves," he added.
Veronica Lee-Thompson, Auckland Council's principal specialist of environmental health, told Newshub a council street trading inspector met with Patchy on Wednesday.
"They had a pre-application meeting where they discussed his business plans and the requirements associated with a mobile vendor licence," Lee-Thompson said.
"When he spoke with our compliance team he was made aware that he should not be trading and to reach out to our Street Trading team regarding getting a licence."
