The housing deficit in Cuba exceeds 800,000 homes, but the regime manages to build only a minimal fraction. The shortage of materials, the collapse of the local industry, and poor state management exacerbate a structural crisis that directly impacts the quality of life for hundreds of thousands of Cubans.
The report, published by the official Cubadebate, was presented this Monday during the parliamentary sessions preceding the fifth ordinary period of the National Assembly of People's Power, where the shortcomings of the Ministry of Construction (MICONS) and the failures of the state housing program were discussed.
According to the official report presented to the Commission of Industry, Construction, and Energy, the housing deficit on the island amounts to 805,583 homes, of which 398,364 need to be rehabilitated and 407,219 need to be built from scratch.
Despite the magnitude of the problem, the country's housing stock increased by only 2,728 units up to March 2025, representing a mere 0.1% increase, according to figures acknowledged by MICONS itself.
The completion of 10,795 housing units was planned for this year, but to date, only 2,382 have been built, representing 22% of the state plan and less than 0.3% of the total national deficit, figures that reflect the paralysis of the sector.
Furthermore, the conditions of the housing stock continue to deteriorate. According to the report, 35% of the homes in the country (1,445,222) are in fair or poor condition, an increase of 6,520 units compared to 2024.
The Minister of Construction, René Mesa Villafranca, acknowledged that there is an increase in the use of lightweight roofing following meteorological events, which raises the structural vulnerability of the country to future cyclones.
The report also warns about the critical state of the construction materials industry, which is considered essential for supporting any progress in the housing program.
The report presented, cited by Cubadebate, acknowledges that there is no increase in production levels and, in fact, from the very planning stage, they are lower than in previous years.
The production using local raw materials is minimal, and over 30% of production centers are idle in provinces such as Holguín and Sancti Spíritus.
In addition to the scarcity of cement and steel, the challenges include low availability of diesel, power outages, technological obsolescence, poor logistics, and a lack of molds, extruders, and transformers.
In many provinces, the production of basic elements such as clay bricks, tiles, pipes, or slabs is minimal or nonexistent.
Only Granma has managed to build the so-called efficient ovens, while in the rest of the country, the production of these small industries is stalled or carried out with models that do not ensure quality.
On a territorial level, there are some positive experiences such as the minindustries in Villa Clara or Guantánamo, which produce goods from recycled materials like plastic, but they face issues with certification and a lack of raw materials, the news portal emphasized.
Throughout the country, the diversity and volume of production are insufficient, which directly impacts the execution of projects, subsidies, and support for vulnerable populations.
Before the deputies, other figures were revealed that demonstrate the paralysis of the sector: of the 82,428 plots of land identified in the country, only 266 have been eradicated this year (2% of what was planned); regarding tenement housing, of the 8,736 existing, only two have been addressed as of May, and in the recovery from cyclones and earthquakes, there are still 94,421 affected homes pending.
The report from MICONS itself acknowledges that the indicators are worse than in the same period of 2024 and that the quality of many productions is inadequate.
Meanwhile, hundreds of thousands of Cubans continue to await housing solutions amidst a collapsing economy, inefficient management, and a paralyzed industry.
The housing crisis, far from being resolved, deepens each year, and even the most modest goals of the state plan are not being met.
However, another concerning detail is that the current crisis is neither new nor catches anyone by surprise: in 2024, fewer houses were built than in the worst years of the Special Period, which indicates the sustained collapse of the State's ability to meet one of the most basic needs of the population.
According to official figures, investments in business services, real estate activities, and rentals reached 24.907 billion Cuban pesos (CUP) in 2024, making it the primary destination for the country's capital expenditure, and evidence of the regime's priorities.
This is complemented by 11,936.5 million CUP allocated to hotels and restaurants, bringing the total to over 36.8 billion pesos invested in activities closely related to tourism that year.
These figures intensify the debate regarding the persistent priority that the Cuban regime places on tourism, despite the prolonged stagnation of the sector and the severe shortages facing the population in fundamental areas such as public health and food production.
Frequently asked questions about the housing crisis in Cuba
What is the current housing deficit in Cuba?
The housing deficit in Cuba exceeds 800,000 homes. According to the official report from the Ministry of Construction (MICONS), it is necessary to build 407,219 new homes and rehabilitate an additional 398,364. This crisis impacts the quality of life for thousands of Cubans, who face precarious living conditions due to the collapse of the construction sector.
Why has the Cuban government not been able to make progress in housing construction?
The housing construction crisis in Cuba is due to the lack of materials, the collapse of the local industry, and poor state management. The production of building materials is minimal, and more than 30% of production centers are halted. Additionally, the government prioritizes investment in the tourism sector over housing needs, which further exacerbates the shortage of resources for housing construction.
What measures has the Cuban government announced to address the housing crisis?
The Cuban government has announced plans to partially reactivate the cement plant in Cienfuegos and improve efficiency in the use of materials. However, these measures lack specificity, deadlines, and visible resources. Furthermore, there has been talk of strengthening the connection with universities and promoting technological innovation, but so far, there have been no tangible results in the housing construction sector.
How does the energy crisis affect housing construction in Cuba?
The energy crisis in Cuba, characterized by widespread blackouts, is severely affecting the production of construction materials. The energy shortage limits the operation of cement factories and other necessary inputs for construction. Furthermore, the lack of fuel and outdated electrical infrastructure exacerbate the situation, further diminishing the country's capacity to make progress in building new homes.
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