Support for Sadhu

This is Sadhu. I met Sadhu a few months ago while walking in the park and immediately felt a connection to him. We spoke very briefly at first, but there was something in the way he handled himself that really drew me to him. Short encounters turned into long conversations, and before I knew it I was meeting up with Sadhu in the park on a regular basis - sharing stories, collaborating on photographs together, searching for coconut oil in the bay… I can say a lot about the time I’ve spent with Sadhu, the friendship we’ve built, and everything he’s taught me - but really I’m sharing this story in hopes that I can find him the help he needs and deeply deserves.

To make a long story a bit shorter, Sadhu, originally named Daniel, was born in Haiti but left when he was 16 years old and moved to Chicago with some family. Years later, at age 26, a friend lent him a book that he recalls being titled “India’s Mystic Holy Man”, and decided to adopt the name Sadhu (:a religious ascetic, mendicant or any holy person in Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism who has renounced the worldly life - one who keenly follows a path of spiritual discipline.) He felt that he needed to not only take on the name but to live a certain way too. No longer wanting to actively participate in society and do what was expected of him, he embraced a lifestyle of simplicity.

And since then, Sadhu has been trying to maintain his beliefs while surviving in a society where he doesn’t belong. In 2002, he moved to Miami and was able to find jobs working in restaurants; he tells me that he moved around a lot during that time but always had somewhere to sleep. Back then, Miami was an easier place to find work and afford a room to stay. For many years he was able to provide for himself and sustain the kind of life he wanted to live, but for the last year or so Sadhu has been houseless here in Miami. He’s now almost 58 years-old, suffers from diabetes among some other health issues, and needs consistent work in order to feed himself and his sweet pup, Chewzday. Sadhu has struggled to find stability due to many reasons including inflation, unaffordable housing and low wages, as well as his own physical disabilities.

Over the past few months that I’ve gotten to know Sadhu, I’ve tried my best to support him when I am able to as well as give him access to things he loves, like painting. After over 2 years of not picking up a paint brush, the ability to paint has brought a lot of excitement back into his life. I’ve figured out ways to help him mentally and emotionally, but the reality of the situation is that he needs financial help, which I alone am not able to give him. I’m hoping that the Miami community can come together and give whatever they can to help Sadhu get back on his feet. All funds raised will go directly to Sadhu, to help him have stable food and basic necessities, care for Chewzday, as well as hopefully secure a payment to buy a mobile home. Every donation will make such a big difference in his life, no matter how big or small. If you feel more compelled to support him by purchasing an art piece, please feel free to reach out and I’ll show you what he’s been working on. I made this GoFundMe to use as a platform but if you feel more comfortable donating directly, my venmo is @Martina-Tuaty and I will make sure those donations go to Sadhu as well.

Sadhu is not one to ask for things, but after talking it over, agreed this is necessary. Although I will be the one managing this page and the funds, he wanted me to express how grateful he is for anyone who is willing to help or even just share his story.