A recent complaint from El Vedado highlights the dire situation of a building where vulnerable families live in unsanitary conditions. In the Facebook group "El Vedado de Hoy," user Maya Quiroga exposed the critical state of a building in the neighborhood, emphasizing that poor physical planning and bad government decisions are severely affecting residents.
Maya shared a conversation she had with a worker from the Librería Ateneo, located on the ground floor of the building: "You can't be here because of the mosquitoes." The focal point of the issue—a stagnant and contaminated water pool—is situated in the lower part of the building, right at a neighbor's door.
What is now a residence was previously a local office for the Committees for the Defense of the Revolution (CDR). In an attempt to solve a housing problem, the government handed over the space to a family without consulting experts to create proper drainage for sanitary services.
The result is that the family "benefited" with this precarious shelter continues to live in terrible conditions, dealing with a dumping ground, a mosquito breeding site, and a puddle of contaminated water at their doorstep. There is also a visible damp stain on the walls.
"In that place, under inhumane conditions, a woman lives with her husband. During vacations, she invaded the storage room of the Librería Ateneo with her three young children. The kids play on the boards and get their hands dirty in the filth," Maya explained.
In the comments on her post, user Raúl René Araguez detailed that the converted space is in the basement of building 1057, where zone 1 of the CDR used to be. The Librería Ateneo occupies the front part of the building on the ground floor.
"It's disappointing to see how everything deteriorates, and nothing is done to stop and reverse the worrying reality we're living in," Araguez said.
Housing Crisis in Cuba: Improvised Solutions Worsen the Situation
This is just one more example of the deep housing crisis in Cuba, where the government, in its rush to address urgent situations, makes incoherent decisions that worsen the lives of many people.
The lack of suitable housing has led to improvised solutions that are not only unsustainable but also dangerous to the health and well-being of the occupants.
Despite constant announcements about the construction of social housing, the reality is that year after year, the regime fails to meet housing plans. Meanwhile, it prioritizes the opening of luxury hotels, like those planned for 2024, even in a context of very low tourist occupancy.
There is a clear disconnect between state policies and the real needs of the population, who continue to wait for a solution to Cuba's housing crisis.
Understanding the Housing Crisis in Cuba
To provide more insight into the housing crisis in Cuba, here are some frequently asked questions and their answers:
What are the main causes of the housing crisis in Cuba?
The main causes include poor government planning, lack of resources, and prioritizing other projects like luxury hotels over social housing.
How do government decisions impact housing conditions?
Government decisions often result in makeshift solutions that lack proper infrastructure, leading to unsanitary and unsafe living conditions.
Why is there a disconnect between state policies and the population's needs?
The government's focus on projects that do not address immediate social needs, such as luxury hotels, creates a gap between policy and the population’s urgent housing requirements.
What are the health risks associated with unsanitary living conditions?
Unsanitary conditions can lead to various health issues, including the spread of diseases through mosquito infestations and exposure to contaminated water.