A young mother and her two children are at risk of being forcefully evicted from a former INDER facility in the town of La Boca, Mariel municipality, Artemisa province. The building had been abandoned for years, as reported by Diasniurka Salcedo Verdecia on Facebook this Thursday.
The complaint highlights that the building was unused for a long time, with residents even using it as a public restroom before the woman moved in out of desperation due to the severe housing shortage.
Municipal authorities are reportedly attempting to remove her from the premises without providing any alternative housing solutions, according to the citizen's report.
In a video, the mother described her interaction with a government official known as "the mayor": "saying they have full authority to park MININT vehicles there and remove me. They claim it's not an eviction since this is a government property; they say they can simply remove me because it doesn't belong to me."
Beyond the eviction threat, the report alleges that authorities have also threatened to take custody of her young children as a means of coercion, a particularly alarming development that has sparked outrage on social media.
Salcedo Verdecia condemned the situation: "It's unacceptable for a property to remain abandoned for years, and when someone in a vulnerable position seeks shelter to survive, the response is eviction without any known dignified alternative."
This incident highlights the broader housing crisis in Cuba, where the deficit exceeds 800,000 homes, as reported by the Ministry of Construction. Approximately 35% of housing stock is in poor condition, and only 5,454 units were built nationwide during 2025.
The severe housing shortage has forced many families to occupy abandoned state properties as their only option. The Cuban regime has responded with a policy of immediate evictions, supported by the Penal Code effective since December 2022, which allows action without waiting for judicial proceedings.
Similar cases of mothers with children being expelled from abandoned properties have been documented in various municipalities since 2020, but the threat of losing custody adds a significant layer of pressure in this instance.
Salcedo Verdecia publicly urged the authorities to "act with humanity and transparency" and called on the community to provide more information about the case.
Understanding Cuba's Housing Crisis
What prompted the eviction of the mother in Mariel?
The eviction was prompted by the mother's occupation of an abandoned INDER property in the absence of available housing, as authorities claim the right to reclaim the government-owned property.
How have Cuban authorities responded to housing shortages?
Cuban authorities have pursued a policy of immediate evictions, supported by the Penal Code, which allows them to act without judicial process, often leaving vulnerable families without alternatives.
What is the current state of the housing crisis in Cuba?
The housing crisis in Cuba is severe, with a deficit exceeding 800,000 homes and 35% of existing homes in poor condition. The country built only a small number of new housing units in recent years.