The Cuban TikToker Roger Roger (Rogerito81), who is dedicated to helping his compatriots who are in Tampa and have nowhere to live, shared the case of an elderly Cuban-American whose retirement income is not enough to pay for rent.
The man's name is Daniel Díaz and he left Cuba in 1968. He is originally from Marianao, in Havana. Upon seeing him sleeping at a gas station, a Cuban father and his daughter brought him food for several days.
At the same time, they notified Roger Roger, who took him to The Salvation Army Red Shield, a center that provides accommodation for homeless people, where fortunately there was a vacant spot.
"Thank God, I will leave it installed here, this is temporary," said the TikToker, who requested that if anyone has a spare room for the elderly person, they should call him at 727-564-0354.
In another video, Daniel recounted that he has been homeless for two months. He used to live renting an apartment with a friend, splitting the rent in half. However, the man passed away, and unable to cover the full amount on his own, he was evicted.
The elderly man also asked for help to locate his brother Juan Díaz who lives in Miami, and Juan's wife, Caridad Díaz (Cari), with whom he has lost contact.
On their part, the Cuban father and his daughter who provided assistance left him their phone numbers and promised not to abandon him.
This week Rogerito81 asked for help for another elderly Cuban man he found begging for money on the street in Tampa.
The old man said his name was Cándido and that he was from Trinidad, in Sancti Spíritus. Although he receives benefits from Food Stamps, the assistance is not enough to pay the rent.
He added that a year ago he applied for the program known as Plan 8, the federal rental subsidy for low-income individuals, but so far, he has not been lucky enough to be selected as a beneficiary.
Roger pointed out that Cándido is usually found in the Hillsborough and Havana areas, in the city of Tampa, and asked that whoever finds him does not simply roll up the car window and instead tries to help him in some way.
Last August, the TikToker organized a support group through his profile for a man from Guantánamo who was living on the streets in Florida.
The man, identified as Melquiades Limonta, was sent to the United States in 1961. He said he was never able to return to the island, where he has three children, and that he wanted to go back to see them and his sister.
Roger Roger contacted the elderly man's family, who lives in the Abel Santamaría neighborhood in Guantánamo, and committed to covering the costs of Limonta's passport and ticket.
He also showed how a group of Cubans brought humanitarian aid, clothing, shoes, and fresh food to the immigrant.
In a moving video, the elderly man broke down in tears upon hearing his sister's voice through a video call, where she told him she wanted to take him in at her home.
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