An elderly man has been lying in the doorway of a residence in Mantilla, a neighborhood in Havana's Arroyo Naranjo, for at least five days. Despite public pleas for help from local residents, authorities have yet to respond.
The incident was brought to light on Monday when Adianet Smith Destrade posted about it on the Facebook page "Noticias de Cuba Hoy." She shared photos of the man dressed in long sleeves, flip-flops, and plaid shorts, lying on the ground. "Good morning, I don't usually make this kind of post, but this man has been in the doorway of this house for five days; please, if anyone knows him or his family and can come for him, the address is Pedro Nuevo #74 between Calzada de Managua and Carmela," she wrote.
In the comments section, Destrade clarified that it was the local community, not the state, providing aid: "The neighbors, people from nearby churches, are the ones giving him food. Calls have been made to authorities to pick him up, but nothing, all in vain."
Recurring Neglect in the Face of Need
This pattern of neglect is becoming increasingly hard to ignore. In January 2025, a homeless elderly man was found sleeping in a doorway at Línea and 14 in El Vedado. It was the neighbors who brought him clothes, soup, and tea while official institutions remained absent.
Similarly, in April this year, a disoriented elderly woman was found in the streets of Playa, and once again, it was the neighbors who attempted to locate her family through Facebook, with no state institution stepping in to provide care.
A month later, a woman known as "Luci" was left in neglected conditions in San Miguel del Padrón. Although doctors and social workers visited, no tangible solution was provided.
Growing Crisis of Vulnerability
In February this year, audiovisual producer Cesario Navas highlighted the increasing visibility of sick, hungry, and homeless individuals surviving in doorways, parks, and uninhabitable buildings across Cuba.
The crisis is underscored by official figures that even the regime cannot conceal. As of August 2026, the Cuban government acknowledged 883,446 people living in vulnerable conditions, almost 7,000 more than in April of the same year, according to data released by the state-controlled press.
With an institutional void, churches and local neighbors fill the gap left by the state. Those who recognize the man at Pedro Nuevo #74 can visit him directly at this address in the Mantilla neighborhood, between Calzada de Managua and Carmela, in Arroyo Naranjo.
Addressing the Social Crisis in Havana
What actions have the local community taken to help the man?
Neighbors and people from nearby churches have been providing food and support to the man, while calls to authorities have gone unanswered.
How prevalent is the issue of neglect for vulnerable individuals in Cuba?
Cases of neglect are increasingly common, with numerous reports of homeless and vulnerable individuals being assisted by neighbors rather than state institutions.
What are the official figures regarding vulnerable populations in Cuba?
As of August 2026, the Cuban government reported 883,446 individuals living in vulnerable conditions, revealing an increase of nearly 7,000 since April of the same year.