44,000 Cuban Mothers with Three or More Children Urgently Need Better Housing

The Cuban government has acknowledged that 44,000 mothers with three or more children under the age of 18 are in dire need of improved housing conditions. This admission was made by the General Director of Housing during the presentation of new agreements by the Council of Ministers, which were published in the Official Gazette this week.

This number is highlighted alongside the release of two specific agreements—10.326 and 10.327—approved on March 5, 2026, and announced in the Ordinary Official Gazette No. 44 of 2026. These agreements amend the housing subsidy policies and the allocation of homes to vulnerable families.

Significantly, Agreement 10.326 increases the amounts the state provides for housing projects, acknowledging the dramatic rise in the cost of materials, services, and transportation that rendered previous subsidies ineffective.

For new construction, the subsidy has been raised from 188,560 to 700,000 pesos. Rehabilitation efforts now receive 656,300 pesos, up from 133,742 pesos. Major conservation work funding increased from 72,000 to 273,000 pesos, and minor conservation funds rose from 19,465 to 56,500 pesos.

Reevaluation of Existing Subsidies

The General Director of Housing noted that around 29,000 subsidies have already been granted for construction projects, many of which remain unfinished due to costs. These cases will be reassessed to provide the additional necessary funding.

The agreement also introduces a "turnkey" delivery system. If individuals lack the means or ability to carry out construction activities themselves, the state will fully manage these projects, the official explained.

Comprehensive Changes in Housing Allocation

Agreement 10.327 of the Council of Ministers alters the housing allocation policy for large families, introducing several significant changes.

The age limit for benefiting minors has been extended from 17 to 18 years. The agreement also explicitly includes fathers and guardians, not just mothers, and offers increased financial support depending on the geographic location of the property.

In addition, it secures the occupancy rights of beneficiaries who do not own the property where the work will be conducted. The property owner must grant a real right of habitation to the beneficiary, who should have resided there for no less than five years, detailed the director.

Socioeconomic Evaluations and Ongoing Housing Crisis

Simultaneously, the Ministry of Labor and Social Security issued Resolution 10/2026, which regulates the socioeconomic assessment of applicant households. It sets the maximum per capita income for subsidy eligibility at 2,100 pesos, with an exception of up to 3,234 pesos for especially vulnerable cases.

These measures are introduced amidst a deepening housing crisis in Cuba. The deficit exceeds 929,000 homes, with about 35% of the housing stock in poor or fair condition. In 2025, the state completed a mere 5,493 units out of a planned 10,795, a shortfall even the government admits to.

Agreement 10.327 will take effect 30 days following its publication in the Official Gazette. Meanwhile, the gap between allocated resources and the actual needs of millions of Cubans remains vast, exacerbated by decades of accumulated housing deterioration.