Cuban Couple in Miami Decides to Enter Rehab After More Than a Year on the Street: “They’re Ready to Leave the Pain Behind”
“A recent news story from Miami reminds us that we all deserve a second chance. Read the story and discover how we at Progressive Medical Center support real change.” After more than a year on the streets of Miami, Dayan and Janet are starting rehab with help from Conducta. The story, which went viral on […]
“A recent news story from Miami reminds us that we all deserve a second chance. Read the story and discover how we at Progressive Medical Center support real change.”
After more than a year on the streets of Miami, Dayan and Janet are starting rehab with help from Conducta. The story, which went viral on social media, highlights solidarity and support for people experiencing homelessness and addiction.
Source: CiberCuba (Link)
The story of Dayan Santiago and his partner, Janet, two Cubans who have been living on the street in Miami for more than a year, has gone viral on social media. Their situation was brought to light by the charitable project Conducta, which documented their decision to enter a rehabilitation program.
In a recent video, posted on the TikTok account @conductadade, the two announced their decision to join a program in West Palm Beach. Dayan said: “Well, my people, here we are again. Thank you for all the attention the video got. We’re ready to go get better; they’re going to set us up with a program in West Palm Beach. Thanks to Damián here and the people at Conducta.”
In that same testimony, he urged the relatives and friends of people struggling with addiction to seek support: “If you have friends, if you have family members going through addiction problems, get in touch with Conducta, and Conducta really helps them, it helps them. They come out here, roll up their sleeves, get right in and help them. If it’s your son, your grandson, call Conducta and Conducta will help you. Kisses.”
While eating with members of the team, Dayan remarks: “You want me to tell you something? We go so long without, so long without eating, that when you chew, it’s like the jaw muscles… I don’t know if it’s ever happened to you, that I go without eating for so long, or without working my jaw for so long, that when you eat you bite yourself and everything because the muscles aren’t ready.”
In the post, Conducta wrote: “Dayan and Janet have spent more than a year on the streets of Miami. Today, they decided together to start a new life. They’re ready to enter rehab and leave the pain behind. Stand with them in this new beginning.”https://www.tiktok.com/embed/v2/7516678393505516831?lang=en-US
Before this video, in which they expressed their willingness to start changing their lives, the project had shared an earlier video in which Dayan introduces himself from a makeshift encampment in the area of 32nd Avenue and 46th, in Miami.
“Good afternoon, my people, here I am. I’m Dayan Santiago, from Regla. I’m 34 years old,” he says at the start.
Throughout the video, he shows his surroundings: “Look, Conducta, this, look, somebody lives there, look under the umbrella, somebody else lives here. Look at all the little things Conducta left here: food, soda, custard, you know, fruit punch, look over here. What they’ve got here is a bike shop. Since everybody out on the street, what they do is get around on bikes. They fix bikes here. Look at the presidential suite over there.”
He also explains how many people live there: “There are like, well, living here, there are like four, like five, six, with a girl who comes by, but a million people come through. Everybody passes through here. This corridor here is super well known.”
According to the project’s description, after recording that video, Dayan committed to meeting with them every day. “Our goal is to help him get into a rehabilitation program and give him a new chance at life.” They also added that the donations delivered, such as food and drinks, were made possible thanks to the support of Progressive Medical Center. https://www.tiktok.com/embed/v2/7515534080784485662?lang=en-US
Dayan and Janet’s story has generated thousands of comments on social media, mixing solidarity, memories, pain, skepticism and a desire to help.
A woman who identifies herself as Dayan’s mother commented on the first video: “This young man is my son. People recommended that I contact Conducta. I’ve sent you a message request with my heart shattered and very grateful for the support you all are giving.”
In response to critical comments, she replied: “Sweetheart, I have done a lot for my son. The situation is more complicated than you can imagine. My biggest refuge has been this TikTok platform, which keeps me entertained and, in some way, supporting other people. Remember that a mentally strong mother is what my son needs right now.”
In another message she added: “Of course I go there, and to other places that are worse. He was home for two months, but he relapsed. He’s a very good kid and he loves me very much, but he’s trapped in this addiction.”
Among the comments, several people said they knew Dayan from Cuba, especially from the area near the Regla refinery. Others remembered Janet and mentioned how both of them “were different” before living on the street.
Messages of support were also shared: “God bless them, and may they pull through,” “How sad to see two young people like this,” “What amazes me is seeing someone from the street express himself better than a lot of influencers,” “God is giving them a chance.”
Other comments expressed doubts about whether they would stick with the process: “They’ll leave within a week, you’ll see,” “That’s hard, but hopefully they can get out.” Some asked how to help, and some even offered to contact them directly if they made it to West Palm Beach.
Dayan and Janet’s case is not the only one Conducta has shared. In recent months, the project has posted other stories of Cubans living on the street in Miami, such as that of Yuli, known as La China de San Antonio, who was also recognized by neighbors and former coworkers. The cases of María del Carmen, an elderly homeless woman, and Bárbara, the mother of newborn twins, have also been documented.
The account has become a regular source for shining a light on people living on the margins of society, especially Cuban migrants trapped in cycles of addiction, illness, violence or abandonment.
About Dayan and Janet, the project wrote: “They are determined to change their lives, and this is the first step toward a new opportunity.” Dayan, for his part, summed it up like this: “The only thing I need is to get clean, because I’ve got the will.”
Frequently asked questions about Cubans living on the street in Miami and the Conducta project
Who are Dayan Santiago and Janet, and what has happened to them?
Dayan Santiago and Janet are two Cubans who have been living on the streets of Miami for more than a year. Their story went viral on social media thanks to the charitable project Conducta, which documented their decision to enter a rehabilitation program in West Palm Beach to leave their addiction problems behind and start a new life.
What is the Conducta project, and how does it help people living on the street?
The Conducta project is an initiative dedicated to raising the visibility of people experiencing homelessness in Miami and helping them, especially Cuban migrants trapped in cycles of addiction, illness or abandonment. Through social media, it documents their stories to build community support and make it easier for them to access rehabilitation programs and the resources they need to improve their situation.
How can I help homeless people in Miami who are documented by Conducta?
You can help people living on the street in Miami by contacting the Conducta project, whether to donate food, clothing or any other resource. Reaching out to Conducta through its TikTok or other social media profiles is an effective way to coordinate help and contribute to improving these people’s lives.
What impact has Conducta had on Miami’s Cuban community?
Conducta has had a significant impact by bringing attention to cases of Cuban people living on the street, raising awareness and mobilizing the community to provide support. It has documented the stories of people like Dayan, Janet and others, offering a platform so their needs can be addressed and their stories heard, which has led many to receive help and begin their rehabilitation process.
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