Inflation and the scarcity of basic products have significantly contributed to the rise of homelessness in Cuba, a situation the regime intends to address with yet another plan to assist "wandering individuals." In streets populated by the mentally ill, the elderly, disabled persons, and alcoholics, this phenomenon is a reality that the government of Miguel Díaz-Canel cannot conceal. As a result, the Council of Ministers approved an update to the policy for addressing this issue last May, a decade after its initial implementation.
The updated policy reaffirms the "responsibility of the Municipal Administration Councils in the prevention, attention, control, monitoring, and decision-making" concerning individuals exhibiting "wandering behavior," explained the Minister of Labor and Social Security, Marta Elena Feitó Cabrera.
New Social Protection Center and Policy Measures
Among the planned actions is the creation of a Social Protection Center in Las Tunas this year, which will join those already established in Pinar del Río, Havana, Matanzas, Villa Clara, Ciego de Ávila, Camagüey, Holguín, Granma, and Santiago de Cuba.
According to Feitó, individuals with "wandering behavior" are clinically assessed and attended to by multidisciplinary teams trained to handle what she described as a "multifactorial human behavior disorder." This disorder, she noted, is characterized by instability and insecurity in a place of residence, lack of self-care and economic autonomy, and an unfavorable life project. It often involves transgression of social coexistence and discipline norms.
The governmental official revealed that over 3,700 people are currently served in these social protection centers. Of these, "87% are men; 50% are between 41 and 59 years old; 30% are disabled; 24% suffer from psychiatric disorders; 30% have high alcohol consumption patterns; and 38% are under 60 years old without a home to return to," according to data cited by the minister.
Previously, figures from the Ministry of Labor and Social Security published by the weekly Trabajadores indicated that between 2014 and 2023, 3,690 individuals were registered in these conditions. However, the economic and social reality of the island suggests an increase beyond official statistics, as it does not account for those who, for various reasons, resort to begging in churches, in front of tourists, or seek sustenance from trash.
The updated policy aims to design a protocol for detecting, informing, and transferring "wandering" individuals and evaluating territories without existing centers to extend the network.
Additionally, the regulation mandates that minors found wandering be sent to the nearest educational or healthcare center to assess their health, provide the necessary services, and inform authorities. Provincial governments must facilitate access to rehabilitation, employment offers, training courses, subsidies, housing, and temporary facilities for those under 60 without a home.
Vice Prime Minister Jorge Luis Perdomo Di Lella stated that the process of collecting individuals with these behaviors should be conducted "holistically," as social protection centers are meant to assist them, not to act as temporary detention facilities.
The primary goal is to reintegrate them with their families and "enforce the family responsibility that is often lost," although he acknowledged that "some individuals are alone and become the state's responsibility, which is why the established institutions exist."
Perhaps this updated policy, which has been in place for a decade without encouraging results, may reshape the current situation in Cuba. The country is ranked as the poorest in Latin America, according to the observatory DatoWorld.
Expectations for improvement fade when considering the low purchasing power, emigration, aging population, food and medicine shortages, and measures implemented by the central government that undermine the well-being of its population.
Understanding Cuba's Updated Policy on Homelessness
Here are some key questions and answers to provide a better understanding of the Cuban government's updated policy on addressing homelessness.
What are the primary goals of the updated policy?
The primary goals are to reintegrate homeless individuals with their families, enforce family responsibility, and provide state care for those without family support.
How does the government plan to address the issue of wandering behavior?
The government plans to set up more Social Protection Centers, clinically evaluate individuals, and ensure they receive multidisciplinary care.
What measures are in place for minors found wandering?
Minors found wandering will be sent to the nearest educational or healthcare center for health assessment, necessary services, and notification of authorities.