Duane Kimmel was stuck: His Social Security disability payments had been cut off because of a decade-old warrant, but authorities had no interest in arresting him so that he could clear the warrant and restore his benefits.

As a result, Kimmel lost his only source of income for five years and became homeless. He lived in the woods in Doraville and in Atlanta shelters. An old back injury prevented him from working, and he didn’t seem to have any recourse.