Santiago de Cuba is grappling with a severe social crisis marked by a significant increase in the number of homeless individuals living on the streets. This alarming situation has been brought to light by independent journalist Yosmany Mayeta, who has received numerous accounts from Cubans documenting cases of people without homes.
A young woman, who recently visited Santiago de Cuba after years away from her hometown, was deeply affected by what she witnessed. "These images broke my heart," she said, describing scenes of elderly people and those with mental health issues sleeping on the streets or in the doorways of businesses along Calle Enramadas, the province's main and busiest street.
Detrimental Living Conditions
The deteriorating living conditions in Santiago de Cuba are evident. The critical state of the country's hospitals, especially those treating mental health patients, is no secret. Factors such as lack of food, bed shortages, deteriorating infrastructure, filth, infestations of mosquitoes, cockroaches, and bedbugs, scarcity of supplies and medications, and the migration of healthcare personnel to better-paying professions all contribute to this crisis.
Many health centers discharge patients who then end up on the streets because they have no home and no family to care for them. The state fails to protect them, leaving them to survive on the streets. The sight of elderly people begging for money or food in the avenues, parks, and public places of Santiago de Cuba has become a common and heartbreaking scene.
"We cannot normalize what is wrong," the journalist emphasized, calling for a profound change in the system to effectively address these issues.
Widespread Issue Across Cuba
This problem is not unique to Santiago de Cuba. This summer, a similar crisis was reported in Havana, with numerous people living in destitution under the Galerías de Paseo complex. Facebook user Arianna Llana highlighted the regime's indifference in the El Vedado de Hoy group, stating, "It's a shame that no institution takes care of this."
The growing homelessness in Cuba reflects the deep economic crisis the country faces, the worst in the past 60 years. While the Cuban government attempts to conceal this reality, social media has become a platform for citizens to expose what is happening.
Understanding the Homelessness Crisis in Cuba
To better understand the homelessness crisis in Cuba, here are some frequently asked questions and their answers.
What factors are contributing to the homelessness crisis in Santiago de Cuba?
The crisis is driven by a combination of factors including lack of food, bed shortages in hospitals, deteriorating infrastructure, infestations, scarcity of supplies and medications, and the migration of healthcare workers to better-paying jobs.
How is the Cuban government addressing the homelessness issue?
The Cuban government has been largely indifferent to the homelessness issue, and there are no significant efforts from institutions to address or mitigate the problem.
Is the homelessness crisis limited to Santiago de Cuba?
No, the homelessness crisis is not limited to Santiago de Cuba. Similar issues have been reported in Havana and other parts of the country.