The Cuban influencer Melissa, known on Instagram as "Meli creating with the heart," managed to raise enough funds to gift a house to three vulnerable elderly individuals in Holguín, thanks to the solidarity of Cubans both on the island and abroad.
The beneficiaries are a woman named Delia and two grandparents, who lived in precarious conditions until the donation campaign led by Melissa made the dream of having a decent roof possible.
"We did it, we gifted the first house to a vulnerable family that truly needed it in Cuba, for Delia and the two grandparents... We did listen to them, we did respond to their cries for help," Melissa wrote while announcing the delivery.
The housing was chosen by the beneficiaries themselves within the available budget.
"Aesthetically, it lacks paint and some furniture, but it doesn’t get wet, it’s made of bricks, simple and safe, and above all, it was delivered with a lot of love and faith," the influencer described.
Melissa identified the delivery as "House 1," indicating her plan to continue with more homes for other families in vulnerable situations.
The initiative has no connection to the Cuban State. It is funded solely by donations from individuals who responded to Melissa's call on social media.
"None of this would be possible without your support, trust, love, and willingness to help. Together we can do it, never think that your assistance is insignificant," the influencer expressed her gratitude to her followers.
This act of solidarity occurs amid a housing crisis and the neglect of the elderly in Cuba that the regime has been unable —or unwilling— to address.
The housing deficit on the island exceeds 900,000 units in 2026, and the government only completed 22% of its construction plan in 2025: just 2,382 of the 10,795 planned homes, due to a shortage of cement, steel, and wood.
The response from thousands of people to Melissa's post encapsulates the collective sentiment: "Let's make famous those who use social media to help others; see, it is possible," wrote a user in one of the most shared comments on the post.
Another person who follows Melissa's work expressed it simply: "Just seeing them made me want to cry. What a beautiful effort, never stop helping those in need; your community always supports you."
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