A mother, her partner, and their three young children are enduring a harsh existence in a makeshift shack cobbled together from sticks and materials salvaged from their surroundings. This ramshackle shelter offers little room for the entire family to sleep inside, and they subsist on what they can barely afford: a small chicken bone costing 50 Cuban pesos and a sweet potato.
Their plight was brought to light by Cuban content creator @melissahabla_ through a video on Instagram. In the clip, 48-year-old Mayolín Joaquín Coy candidly shared the dire situation her family faces: “We haven't had lunch or dinner for two days, and I'm not ashamed to say it.”
Approximately a year and a half ago, they were forced to leave their previous home because their income was needed for food and medicine. Now, they live in this improvised shack.
Mayolín’s partner, who is 53, suffers from a hernia that remains untreated, preventing him from working. Despite dedicating years to 11 sugar harvests and agricultural labor, he is ineligible for retirement benefits, as he had to leave his job before meeting the necessary requirements.
“I can't get surgery; there's nothing available. This situation is unbearable,” he expressed in the video. “All my work was for nothing. Eleven sugar harvests for nothing.”
Mayolín earns a modest wage working in communal services, which is insufficient to support the family. They previously supplemented their income by selling bleach, but that product is no longer accessible.
The family built their shelter with their own hands, using whatever materials they could find nearby, and all five members sleep in the same cramped space because the interior room cannot accommodate everyone.
During her visit, @melissahabla_ delivered donations from her online community to help the family purchase food, promising to return. “Witnessing the situation of this family broke my heart completely. I promised these little angels I would come back and urged them not to lose hope,” she wrote.
Broader Context of Poverty in Cuba
This case is not unique. The IX Report from the Cuban Observatory of Human Rights, released this month and based on over 1,300 interviews conducted across the country's 15 provinces, reveals that 94% of Cubans live in extreme poverty, using the World Bank’s threshold of $1.90 per day as a benchmark.
This figure marks an increase of five percentage points from the 89% reported in September 2025.
According to the same study, eight out of ten Cubans have skipped meals due to a lack of money or food, and 63% of households struggle to obtain essential goods.
The housing crisis exacerbates the issue: Cuba faces a housing deficit exceeding 900,000 units, with 961 informal settlements and 37% of residential buildings in fair or poor condition. Such circumstances force entire families to construct precarious homes like the one Mayolín and her children inhabit.
@melissahabla_ has documented similar stories in Holguín, achieving tangible results: a mother with three children living in a cardboard structure without electricity or a postal address received a cement house, thanks to donations coordinated by the creator, just a month later.
Understanding the Cuban Crisis
What percentage of Cubans live in extreme poverty?
According to the Cuban Observatory of Human Rights, 94% of Cubans live in extreme poverty.
How does the housing crisis affect families in Cuba?
The housing crisis in Cuba results in a deficit of over 900,000 units, forcing families to build makeshift shelters and live in poor conditions.
What efforts have been made to assist families like Mayolín's?
Efforts by individuals like @melissahabla_ have provided donations and support, resulting in tangible improvements for some families, such as new housing.