A Cuban mother named Griselda Tarrago Escobar walked away from a house that had been gifted to her through a charitable campaign in Holguín, reportedly aiming to sell it, according to content creator Héctor Lorenzo on social media.
The saga began in mid-April when the humanitarian effort "Mi Ciudad tiene un Principito" was alerted about the dire situation of Griselda and her six-year-old daughter, Natacha Montenegro Tarrago. The child suffers from bronchial asthma and blood disorders and had been without medication for about seven months.
Their previous home had a damaged roof, unreliable electricity, and they cooked using a wood stove. Spearheaded by Lorenzo via his page "Soy Holguín" and in collaboration with the El Principito project, the campaign raised 234,000 Cuban pesos, which financed a new house in El Llano, San Andrés.
In the handover video, Griselda appeared overjoyed: "I'm in my little house and I'm very happy, thanks to you all," she expressed on camera. She also extended her heartfelt thanks to Lorenzo and all donors.
However, the situation rapidly deteriorated. Griselda expressed a desire to return to her community, claiming the new home lacked cooking facilities, and she asserted, "Anyway, the house is already mine," as captured in the video.
According to Lorenzo, Griselda did not bring donated food or bed linens to the new home and began complaining about the lack of food and water, despite the house being equipped with pots, a refrigerator, morning electricity, and a nearby water well with a tank costing activists 23,000 pesos.
At the time of the handover, a collaborator of Lorenzo's gave Griselda 20,000 Cuban pesos, an act caught on video, but she dismissed the amount disdainfully, as Lorenzo recounted in his post.
The beneficiary also insulted Lorenzo's wife and Yoana from the El Principito project with what Lorenzo described as "very ugly" words, which he chose not to repeat. More than five local residents witnessed the incident and were, according to Lorenzo, "perplexed and very angry."
"She planned everything from the start. She never intended to stay in the house," Lorenzo stated in his public complaint.
In response, Lorenzo, the El Principito project, and the main collaborator decided to lock the house and seek another family in need.
"It's unacceptable for someone to sell or do God knows what with a house bought for a sick child," he asserted.
This incident highlights a growing trend in Holguín where citizens compensate for the State's failure to address the housing crisis, which by 2026 has left Cuba with a deficit of over 900,000 homes.
The government only managed to fulfill 22% of its construction plan in 2025—completing just 2,382 of the 10,795 planned homes—due to shortages of cement, steel, and wood.
Meanwhile, other similar initiatives have seen success: an influencer provided homes to homeless seniors in Holguín, and Cubans raised more than 1,137,000 pesos for a pair of siblings with serious illnesses.
"We feel used, deceived, and above all, very sad. But this case has deterred me from attempting something like this again," concluded Lorenzo, whose post garnered over 166,000 views and more than 4,000 comments.
Understanding the Housing Crisis in Cuba
What was the reason Griselda abandoned the donated house?
Griselda reportedly abandoned the house with the intent of selling it after expressing dissatisfaction with the new location and amenities.
How much money was raised for the new house?
The campaign raised 234,000 Cuban pesos, which were used to purchase a new home for Griselda and her daughter.
What challenges does Cuba face in terms of housing?
Cuba is dealing with a severe housing crisis, with a deficit of over 900,000 homes and the government failing to meet construction targets due to resource shortages.