The Other Face of Cuba’s Streets
HAVANA TIMES – Solitary figures clothed in rags wander the streets of our cities, dragging their feet in silence, rummaging through the trash, and extending a hand to intercept passersby. The Cuban government and its “just revolution” once promised a country without beggars. That was one of the banners they waved as a symbol of social justice, supposedly taking on the responsibility of providing education, healthcare, and basic sustenance for all.
But despite “institutional efforts” and official rhetoric, reality reveals cracks through which stories of abandonment, exclusion, and despair seep. As you walk through cities and towns across the country, a contradiction appears that can no longer be hidden. This is not a case of mass homelessness as seen in other Latin American countries, but there is indeed a web of exclusion that has left many without shelter, food, or voice.
Most are elderly people with no family, broken by years of emigration, conflict, or emotional wear. Some suffer from undiagnosed and untreated mental illnesses and remain trapped in an institutional limbo where public health services fail to respond. Others have simply been defeated by extreme poverty.
What’s most alarming is how accustomed we’ve become to their presence—we see them as part of the urban landscape. At best, we might offer them some money, a piece of bread, or a drink. At worst, we look away, hurry past, lower our gaze, and pretend we didn’t hear the “Can you spare something to eat?” We justify it by telling ourselves they only want the money for alcohol. But it’s in these acts where the real danger lies—where we begin to lose our humanity. This indifference also marginalizes them. If we don’t see them, it’s as if they don’t exist. But they do exist.
I don’t intend to romanticize misery or assign blame. The truth is that we Cubans have been losing the values of solidarity, empathy, and justice. We are so overwhelmed by misery and darkness that the basic instinct of survival has risen to the surface. This is a phenomenon that is there, growing every day, and it won’t disappear magically.
It’s not just about protesting blackouts or abusive prices, it’s about questioning why people are sleeping on doorsteps, why elderly people lack medicine and care, why there are aimless young people drifting between destitution and illegality. These are human beings and, like us, they carry their own stories, pain, and dignity.
Demanding any improvement for the people in Cuba has become both futile and dangerous. There are so many things our rulers ignore—out of incompetence or neglect—but these people need immediate assistance, real social reintegration programs, not one-off operations. No country can consider itself just if its most vulnerable citizens have nowhere to sleep and nothing to eat.
In the meantime, all we can do is practice active compassion while the government presents a pretend reality before the international community. Sometimes a meal, a few kind words, or simply listening can make a difference. A society that only thinks in terms of “every man for himself” and leaves the helpless behind doesn’t just fail economically or politically—it fails humanly.
You’ve nailed the problem. Not only have the so-called communist rulers sucked all value out of the island, but in so doing they’ve impoverished the spirits and courage of their own people. Oswaldo Paya wrote and spoke about the existential dilemma of living under authoritarianism because gradually it wears down your standards of interpersonal honesty and integrity. He was a courageous and intelligent voice for social change in Cuba and he was killed in a car accident staged by the G2 (Cuba’s security service modelled on the Stasi). Cuba is lost now. There is no food, pure water, fuel for transportation or electricity and no plan or prospect of improving these fundamental services in the immediate future. Like its neighbour, Haiti, Cuba is now a failed state with nothing much left to sell (apart from proximity to America’s broadband signals). Their infrastructure is completely compromised after 60 years of Revolutionary “progress” that repaired nothing. There is no fuel for transportation, the cars are ancient and gerry-rigged and the roads are also a complete mess. There is no power to purify water, there is no money to pay for plastic bottles to put it in, but also the pipes and pumps from the reservoirs and around the cities are completely compromised. The generators that would provide electricity if there were fuel to turn the turbines, are long since obsolete. Even if fuel could be found, parts are no longer made for them. The communists, of course, see this as their Masada, but the other 80% of Cubans only want to live better lives, and if Cuba were not an island it would have emptied out long ago.
I have read this with great empathy as I have witnessed this first hand time and time again upon my visits to Cuba for 20 years
Seniors, many in the streets No teeth, desperate for food. Ragged clothing
How can one truly be at peace of mind on vacation to know this?
Sadly, the tourists alone cannot save by the many luggages of clothing brought on the plane and other acts of kindness to the needy in which Canadians are known for.
It is overwhelming!!
I question where is all the money from tourism to Cuba going?
On the other hand I have witnessed a great change in Cuba the last 5 years with the younger generation
Tattoos, phones, permanent brows have become common allbeit they too are affected by ever growing distresses in Cuba but it’s an imbalance of the elderly versus
I have seen the absolute beauty of Cuba but also darkness in alley ways But won’t comment more as I fear saying too much
Believe it or not, In Canada, the land of plenty, we have an explosive growth of homeless people lying on the streets in the dead of winter searching garbage cans for food in states of mental illness, growing encampments taking over public parks
The World As A Whole is in a desperate state!
Wars, racial hatred, disease, acts of terrorism, continued stockpile of nuclear weapons, threats to our planet earth! Where will it end?
We have to continue to hold on to Hope, Faith. Look Up!
Only the Creator, The Almighty can bring an end to this oppression and bring relief to all of Mankind!
I have gone to Cuba many many times over many years. This is not new. Please don’t make this look like it’s just now. Cuba has been suffering for many many years. Poverty and homelessness is horrid. There are no foodbanks, no shelters. NADA
Mr. Flaherty, firstly, what makes you think our publication is based in Miami, you couldn’t be further from the truth. Secondly, while editorially the publication does not support the US embargo, we are well aware that unless you can convince 60% of the US Congress to remove it, it is going to stay for a long time like it already has. Best of luck in convincing them. In the meantime, Cubans write first hand to give our readers an on the ground look at life in the country.
The elephant in the room is the Cruel US Blockade. A criminal effort to starve Cubans. You write as if it doesn’t exist.
How about demanding an end to the brutal and unjust US blockade on Cuba for starters? From your base in Miami you are conveniently located to do that.
You should take a walk down downtown Toronto Canada, or go into the subway.
Very, very moving article.
It’s the same here in Canada now . More and more homeless due to corporate buy out of property 3x rent food or rent ….. it comes to that for anyone that has just cpp and old age 1400 a month . Rent 1000 . Long 30 days . .. corruption!!!!!
Homelessness is awful in North American cities.. People living in tents with no heat or water in below freezing. The tents get taken down by police and they move onto the streets.. Los Angeles is full of drug addicted homeless for miles and miles downtown. Same for Seattle, Portland Philadelphia and many more. Here in Montreal it is getting worse and worse because the apartments have become very unaffordable and food costs are soaring.. The misery is in England and France as well. I wish the best for the wonderful Cuban people.
Thank you.