Billboard man is homeless no more

Austin (KXAN) - Putting Danny Silver up on an billboard along I-35 worked.

Mobile Loaves and Fishes launched the campaign last month to bring awareness to Austin's homeless population. The billboard featured a large arrow pointing at Danny, and asked people to text to make a $10 donation to get him off the streets.

Thousands of dollars in donations poured in.

Late Thursday morning, a pickup brought Danny and Maggie to their new home in a community near Austin's airport.  The manufactured home is a big change from their previous living arrangement.  They've been living in a tent in North Austin for several years.

They relied on panhandling to get by.  Then, Maggie suffered a stroke, making their hard life even more difficult.  She relies on a wheelchair, and Danny's help, to get around.

A crowd of sponsors, volunteers, and neighbors applauded as Danny pushed Maggie's wheelchair toward their new home.   This was a life-changing event, and Danny knew it.  But he didn't know who was waiting inside.

"On Sunday afternoon, I got an e-mail in my in box, and the subject line says, 'That's my daddy,'"said Alan Graham.   The Mobile Loaves and Fishes founder played an integral part in getting Danny into the home.  Now, he was about to play a key role in reuniting Danny with his long lost daughter.

Brittany Silver lost touch with her father more than a decade ago.  She didn't know where he lived, or what he was doing.

"My stepdad, actually out of all people was at home watching the news, and he seen it on CNN," Brittany said.  "He called me as soon he saw it."  It was a news story about Danny on the billboard.

Brittany found the information online, and sent an e-mail to Graham.

Father and daughter spoke on the phone shortly afterwards.  Then, Brittany made plans to come to Austin from her home in North Carolina for the home dedication.

"I'm ready to see him.  It's been so long," she said as she waited inside.  Her fiance stood by her side. 

Outside, Danny, Maggie and Graham spoke to the crowd.

"Thank you all very much for your support, all of you," Danny said.  "Hopefully, this will spread to the people who really need the help."

"Homelessness is this absolutely profound disconnectedness from self, family and community," Graham told the crowd. "And when we're blessed with the opportunity to reconnect people, it's beyond powerful.  It's beyond words."

Danny put his hand gently on Maggie's shoulder as Graham spoke.  He did not know what was about to happen.

"I had the blessing on Sunday night to communicate with Danny's daughter, Brittany," Graham continued.  "They haven't seen each other in years, and today, we're going to end that right now," Graham said as he turned toward the home, "with Brittany Silver."

Danny turned to see the door fly open.  Brittany walked out, a big smile on her face.  Danny sprung to his feet and moved toward her, arms open.  They met in a tight embrace.  The crowd erupted in loud cheers and applause.  Brittany closed her eyes as she hugged her father, but you could still see her joyful tears.

After a few moments, Danny led Brittany over to Maggie.  "This is my daughter," he said proudly.

"She's growed up on daddy since the last time I seen her," he later told reporters.  "She wasn't... I wasn't a grandparent, let's put it that way."

He tried to describe what it was like to see the daughter he hadn't seen in more than 10 years.

"It was almost like when she come out of the womb," he said.  "It was almost like a fainting experience."

"My thoughts for her have never changed since the day she was born," Danny continued.  "I guess that's the way all daddies feel."

Brittany helped hold the door as Danny pushed Maggie's wheelchair into their new home.  A reporter asked him what would happen next.

"I'm going to get her to do what she likes best," he replied, gesturing toward Maggie. "That's cleaning house and taking care of the house, and me get out there and go to work."

Graham was already looking ahead to helping more people like Danny and Maggie get off the streets.

"It's not going to stop here.  We're going to keep going one at a time, if that's what it takes," Graham said.  "And if we're blessed with being able to develop a community where people can join together, that like to affiliate and belong with each other, then we'll do that as well."