The economic crisis in Cuba, the worst in the last 60 years, has forced many people to live under dire conditions, a sad situation that the regime fails to address and often responds to with complete indifference. However, the reality that the Cuban government tries to hide is exposed daily on social media by netizens.
Arianna Llana alerted the Facebook group "EL Vedado de Hoy" on Thursday about people living in destitution under the complex Galerías de Paseo in Havana. "It's a shame that there is no institution that takes care of this," she pointed out, highlighting that, in plain sight, these individuals live in squalor without any intervention from the regime's institutions tasked with solving these issues.
The same individual had reported a similar situation an hour earlier. "I go out to buy bread and encounter this very ugly scene, and it's not the first time I've seen it," she noted, once again criticizing the Cuban regime's inaction in the face of poverty in the capital.
Homelessness in Cuba is a reality that the government can no longer hide as it did in the past. Year-over-year data shows significant increases in extreme poverty in the nation. According to the Ministry of Labor and Social Security (MTSS), 3,690 homeless individuals were registered in Cuba between 2014 and 2023, as reported by the official newspaper Trabajadores in its April issue.
Inflation and the scarcity of basic products are essential factors contributing to the rise in homelessness in Cuba, a situation that the regime plans to reverse with its latest plan to address "homeless individuals." In streets filled with mentally ill people, the elderly, people with disabilities, and alcoholics, the phenomenon is a reality that the government of Miguel Díaz-Canel cannot hide. As a result, in May, the Council of Ministers approved an update to the policy for their care, after 10 years of its establishment.
The Rising Homelessness Crisis in Cuba
To better understand the growing issue of homelessness in Cuba, we have compiled some frequently asked questions and their answers.
Why is homelessness increasing in Cuba?
The increase in homelessness in Cuba is primarily due to the severe economic crisis, inflation, and scarcity of basic products, which have left many people unable to afford basic necessities.
What is the Cuban government's response to homelessness?
The Cuban government has been criticized for its lack of action and indifference towards the homeless crisis. Recently, the Council of Ministers approved an update to the policy for addressing homelessness, but its effectiveness remains to be seen.
How many homeless individuals are there in Cuba?
According to the Ministry of Labor and Social Security, there have been 3,690 homeless individuals registered in Cuba from 2014 to 2023.