Fait Accompli: Systematic Squatting Becomes the Norm in Cuba’s Housing Shortage

Cuba faces a record housing deficit as new constructions drop by 77% since 2020, forcing thousands into illegal occupations of state buildings and warehouses.

By: AXL Media

Published: May 1, 2026, 7:56 AM EDT

Source: Havana Times

The Urban Appropriation of State Infrastructure

Across cities like Camagüey, the visual landscape is shifting as former state facilities are repurposed by desperate residents. Abandoned railroad crossing booths and unused warehouses within bus depots are being transformed into makeshift family dwellings or commercial storage units. In many cases, these structures are occupied after years of neglect, with squatters building precarious additions using asbestos, zinc roofing, and scrap lumber. While these settlements lack basic permits, the sheer volume of occupants has forced a policy of "legalization by necessity" from the National Housing Institute.

Statistical Collapse of the National Housing Policy

The current crisis is the result of a dramatic decline in the state's ability to provide new housing. In 2006, the Cuban government completed 79,000 homes; by 2024, that number had fallen to 7,427, representing a staggering 90% decrease from peak levels. The 2017 National Housing Policy, which aimed to build 500,000 new homes by 2030, is now considered a failed project. The near-total paralysis of the economy, combined with a lack of essential construction materials like cement, has rendered large-scale federal projects non-viable.

Legislative Shifts Toward Private Property Rights

To address the deficit, the National Assembly is currently debating a new housing law that would replace the 1988 statute. Unlike previous regulations focused on state control, the draft proposal signals a shift toward expanding private property rights. Key provisions include: