The story of a homeless Calgary woman who found more than $10,000 in a purse on the street and returned it to the owners was voted Calgary's most heartwarming story of 2012.

The purse was left behind by someone driving away from a downtown building in October.

But according to the woman, who did not want to be named, all of the attention was a bit of a roller-coaster ride.

"I expected it to only be between me the police and the person who owned the money. But, honestly, I think it's been a negative experience for me," she said.

She took it to her case worker at the YWCA she was living in and they called the police to return it. She says it never crossed her mind to keep the money.

After the story was made public there was talk about a reward, a job offer, or a trust fund to help the woman get back on her feet and find an apartment.

She says she couldn't help but get her hopes up.

"It shocked me when people told me I would get money from doing this, then my expectations were built up," she said. "To me, it was pretty heartwrenching."

In the end, the woman did get a cash reward from the owners of the purse — a couple from Edmonton, but she is still homeless, still living in a shelter and still hoping.

A trust fund set up on her behalf did not receive any donations.