Meet the homeless Inuk man behind the selfless gesture caught on video

Putulik Qumaqhas been widely praised for giving an apparently homeless teenager the coat off his back.

But his own life experience makes the gesture even more remarkable.

• WATCH: Homeless Inuk man's selfless act caught on camera in Montreal
• New 5-year plan aims to get 2,000 off streets in Montreal
• Follow CBC Montreal on Facebook

Qumaq followed his mother to Montreal from CapeDorsetinNunavutwhen he was just 21, and hehas been living on the city'sstreetsfor 17 years.

Although he has faced hardships andbattledalcohol and drug addiction, those who know him say the act caught on camera reflects his kind and generous spirit.

'Trying to break out of that world'

A homeless man's selfless act

9 years ago

Duration 1:07

"It's cold. Like myself, I'm homeless too for all these years, but I had a feeling. He's young and I've been through that," Putulik Qumaq said of handing his own coat over to an apparently homeless teenager.

Throughout his time on the streets, Qumaqhas been coming to the Open Door homeless centre which operates out ofSt. Stephen'sAnglican Church on the corner of Dorchesterand Atwater avenues.

The centreprovides daytime activities, food,clothing and access to the internetto the homeless.

"They help me a lot," Qumaqsaid of Open Door.

"Over the years, I've been struggling."

Qumaqsaysdrug and alcohol use has been a problemthroughout his life.

Open Door's assistant director David Chapman says he sees Qumaqalmost every day at the centre.

"It's not an easy road if you have been homeless for a while and you are trying to break out of that world. But hecontinuallyis making an effort to do that,"Chapman said.

"It's really lovely to watch and honour to be a part of that."

Chapman says he wasn't surprised to see the video showingQumaqhelping out.

"Unfortunately, if you are living on the street, you can end up in prison from time to time and [Qumaq] has been at times," he said.

"But he's also someone who is quite sensitive and emotional and he's quite aware of the other homeless people around him."

Surviving on the streets

Qumaqsayshe spends most of his days inside the church at Open Door but the nights, particularly during the winter, can be hard.

"Atwater, downtown, that's my area,"Qumaqsaid.

"I take care of myself. Go to warm places, stay on safe streets."

Qumaq'smother and brother are also on and off the street and he spends the majority of his time with them. He also hasmade good friends who have always been willing to help him out.

"I'm not alone during the night. We gather together and collect hot meals, warm clothes. That's how we survive," he said.

Qumaq says that time together has made them all willing to help each and that's why he didn't think twice about helping the apparently homeless teenager by giving away his coat.