Cuba Held Housing Congress Amidst Severe Housing Crisis

Cuba is organizing an international congress to discuss housing in Latin America. This event comes at a time when the country is facing a severe housing crisis, with a significant deficit and many buildings in poor condition.

The congress, titled "Habitar la vivienda en las ciudades latinoamericanas," is scheduled for August 26-27 and is being organized by the Society of Architecture of the Union of Architects and Construction Engineers of Cuba (UNAICC). It aims to bring together specialists to share research and discuss housing challenges.

📄 Where and When

The event is virtual and set to take place on August 26th and 27th. The call for papers' summaries is open until August 7th. This initiative involves specialists and experts focused on urban housing solutions across Latin America.

📄 Why It's Important

This congress highlights the stark contrast between academic discussions and the harsh reality faced by many Cubans. The island faces an official housing deficit of over 929,000 homes, with about 35% of the existing housing stock in regular or bad condition. In Havana alone, nearly a thousand buildings collapse annually, putting thousands of families at risk.

Adding to the problem, the construction industry is struggling. Cement plants operate at a fraction of their capacity due to lack of maintenance, while the demand for cement far exceeds production. This scarcity has severely hampered the fulfillment of official housing construction plans.

📄 What the Parties Say

While the UNAICC is organizing this forum for discussion, official figures show a significant gap in construction. In 2025, only 2,382 out of over 10,700 planned homes were built, a mere 22% completion rate. Even a government-backed modular housing program had delivered only 133 units nationwide by April 2026.

The government is working on a new housing law that includes mechanisms like mortgage financing and subletting. However, experts suggest these proposals may not address the root causes of the crisis.

📄 What Comes Next

The congress is expected to generate discussions and proposals regarding housing solutions in Latin America. However, for the hundreds of thousands of Cubans struggling with inadequate or non-existent housing, the urgency for concrete solutions remains paramount.

The gap between international forums and the daily struggles of families in Cuba continues to be a major point of concern, as the housing problem has worsened over decades.