Recent data has exposed a startling reality in Cuba: out of 63,715 mothers raising three or more children under the age of 17, a mere 416 have been granted government housing. This figure is less than 1%, highlighting significant challenges in executing social policies aimed at supporting large families.
The Cuban Government shared this information on their X profile, showcasing "2024 results," which also revealed that only 7,915 of these mothers are employed. Furthermore, 8,402 are receiving temporary social assistance, and 18,487 have benefited from resource distribution.
These numbers underscore the precarious situation of many mothers, who often rely on temporary aid to make ends meet. While the distribution of material resources has been more substantial, it depends on what the government categorizes within this variable. However, this does not make up for the lack of housing solutions, a crucial element for improving these families' living standards. Most beneficiaries continue to endure poor living conditions.
For instance, last year, the story emerged of a mother who resorted to selling her mobile phone to gather money for feeding her eight children, as she had no other means to provide for them. In such cases, the assistance from Cubans living abroad has also been vital. An example is the donation of a house to a mother of eight in Mayabeque province who was homeless.
Additionally, a young Cuban couple with three sick children reported in May that they were living in grim conditions without government support, and they faced threats of eviction from the home they occupied.
Due to various factors, by July 2024, Cuba recorded 34,648 births, which is 8,157 fewer than the same period in 2023, according to official reports. This decline represents an almost 20% drop, as reported by the government-aligned Cubadebate and figures presented by Dr. Catherine Chibás Pérez, the national head of the Maternal and Child Program (PAMI) at the Ministry of Public Health.
Challenges for Cuban Mothers with Multiple Children
How many mothers with three or more children have received government housing in Cuba?
Only 416 out of 63,715 mothers with three or more children have received government housing in Cuba, representing less than 1%.
What kind of support do these mothers receive aside from housing?
Apart from housing, 8,402 mothers receive temporary social assistance, and 18,487 have been provided with material resources by the government.
What role do Cubans living abroad play in supporting these mothers?
Cubans living abroad have provided crucial support, including donations of houses to mothers in need, such as in the case of a mother with eight children in Mayabeque province.