A content creator residing in the province of Sancti Spíritus showcased in a Facebook video the harsh reality of trying to build or repair a home in Cuba, where obtaining a bag of cement has become a feat and the housing deficit exceeds 900,000 units.
Under the title "The Odyssey of Building in Cuba," Cuban Yatmara Bernal shared a clip of just over two minutes featuring a first-person account, in which she showcases her own home and candidly narrates the challenges that Cubans face in securing their own shelter.
"Living in Cuba, today I want to tell you about the odyssey of building here", Bernal begins in the video. "What you see there is my house. And although it might look a bit "ugly" and may seem little to many, for me it means a lot. I am extremely grateful to God and to my mother for having it," she stated.
The content creator describes her home as an achievement in the current Cuban context. "In Cuba, having a house, even if it's still under construction like mine, is a true accomplishment," she states.
It also notes that most housing constructions in the country are carried out through personal effort, meaning that they are initiated and financed privately, as long as the necessary permits and technical advice are obtained.
Bernal identifies two major obstacles that paralyze any attempt to build or repair: the severe shortage of materials and the extreme increase in prices.
"Construction in Cuba today is facing a severe crisis, characterized by a significant shortage of materials. Due to insufficient production of cement and steel to meet demand, as well as the rising costs of these materials," it explains in the video.
It also points out that "it is becoming increasingly difficult to find and buy a bag of cement, for example, not to mention the rest of the materials."
The numbers support Bernal’s testimony. Cement production in Cuba operated at 10% of its installed capacity in 2024, impacted by the energy deficit, technological obsolescence, and lack of investment.
In the informal market, a bag of cement can cost 7,000 Cuban pesos, about 14 dollars, and 400 bricks can sell for 41 dollars, reported other Cuban women on social media in recent months.
The housing crisis described by Bernal is structural. The housing stock in the country amounts to approximately 4.1 million units, of which 35% are in regular or poor condition.
The official deficit exceeds 900,000 homes, with estimates reaching up to 929,000 units by 2026. In 2025, Cuba only completed 22% of its annual plan for construction, which amounted to 2,382 of the 10,795 planned homes.
"The housing stock in Cuba is significantly below what it should be and is increasingly inadequate, making it almost impossible to have a home of one's own," summarizes Bernal.
In light of this situation, the government put a public consultation in February 2026 regarding a draft of a new Housing Law that repeals the regulation from 1988 and allows ownership of up to two permanent residences.
However, the analyst Elías Amor described the changes as merely aesthetic that do not boldly confront the root of the problem: the communist policies, supposedly egalitarian, are an irreparable harm to housing.
Bernal acknowledges in his video that the government is investing in cement and steel factories, but warns that "despite the efforts, the housing deficit is substantial and is not being effectively reduced in the short term," and concludes that "the lack of housing and the slow pace of construction are impacting the quality of life for Cubans."
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