Cuban Government Blames Families and U.S. Embargo for Rise in Homelessness

The Cuban government is attributing the increase in homelessness in Santiago de Cuba to family neglect and the intensification of the U.S. embargo, according to a report in the state-run newspaper Sierra Maestra. In an interview with the local media outlet, Ernesto González Ojea, the provincial director of Labor and Social Security, acknowledged that the current economic situation—exacerbated, he claimed, by "the heightened hostility of U.S. government policies against Cuba"—is limiting access to essential goods like medication and food.

González emphasized that this predicament primarily impacts "vulnerable sectors, families, and individuals," who are "most likely to be affected." However, beyond blaming external factors, González pointed to Cuban families themselves as responsible for the phenomenon of homelessness.

Family Neglect and Social Issues

González remarked, "Behaviors, according to assessments from social work and comprehensive care, have generally increased due to family neglect," without acknowledging that the internal crisis also exacerbates the situation. He added that many families fail to comply with the new Family Code, approved by referendum in 2022, which clearly outlines responsibilities towards vulnerable members.

“Family non-compliance is one of the main causes we have detected,” asserted the official, highlighting that social workers and prevention groups must act to identify families that "cannot or deliberately do not" care for their vulnerable relatives.

Government Efforts and Ongoing Challenges

In his address, González Ojea avoided mentioning the severe economic crisis plaguing the country, marked by high inflation, food shortages, power outages, and a failing healthcare system, which are also the result of internal government policies, apart from the U.S. embargo. To mitigate the issue, authorities have established a social care center in Santiago de Cuba called "Con-Pasión," located on Heredia Street, offering medical assistance and recreational activities to the homeless.

Additionally, a Social Protection Center is operational in El Viso, El Caney, providing shelter and job reintegration opportunities to those without homes. These institutions complement their services with the Family Care System (SAF), present in every municipality, which—according to the official report—provides basic meals, cultural and recreational activities, and legal assistance through the Citizen Defense.

The official boasted about plans to establish similar centers in all municipalities of Santiago de Cuba, particularly in major community councils, to decentralize care and prevent severe cases from falling beyond provincial reach.

Distinguishing Types of Homelessness

González also sought to clarify the differences between "homeless individuals" and "individuals with erratic behaviors," explaining that some people might temporarily exhibit erratic conduct due to mental disorders or family problems. In contrast, true homeless individuals are those who, abandoned or lacking strong family ties, end up living chronically on the streets.

Moreover, he acknowledged cases of people living on the streets due to alcoholism or engaging in begging, using religious imagery to solicit money and then consuming alcohol. "Some return to that behavior sooner or later," he noted.

The institutional approach to these individuals involves multidisciplinary teams composed of the Revolutionary National Police (PNR), the Ministry of Public Health, the Provincial Prosecutor's Office, the Citizen Defense, and other official bodies, which evaluate cases to determine appropriate care and potential relocation to senior homes, nursing homes, or mental health facilities.

Public Criticism and Broader Implications

While the regime attempts to portray its response as organized and humanitarian, public criticism on social media and independent forums highlights that the increasing visibility of homelessness in cities like Havana, Santiago de Cuba, and Holguín is a direct consequence of the severe economic crisis, social decay, and lack of effective public policies to address rising structural poverty in the country.

Despite official rhetoric blaming external factors and families, there is a widespread perception among the population that the lack of opportunities, inadequate salaries, genuine social insecurity, and the state's incapacity to ensure a dignified life are the real root causes of the problem.

A recent report from the state-run newspaper Girón has exposed one of the most painful realities of contemporary Cuba: the extreme precarity faced by thousands of retirees who, after decades of work, find themselves forced to survive on the streets. In Matanzas, under the scorching Caribbean sun, elderly individuals who once held essential roles in the national economy now sell bags, cigarettes, pastries, or fruits on street corners and doorways.

Raúl Navarro González, the author of the report titled “Surviving After Working,” vividly depicts scenes of older men and women unable to meet their basic needs with the pensions they receive from the state. The series of images captured shows the daily struggle of those who, instead of resting after a lifetime of labor, must continue working to secure their livelihood.