Housing Poverty In Hungary

Building and campaigning against the lack of affordable housing
  • 230 people served in FY19 230 people served in FY19
  • 100 people served through market development in FY19 100 people served through market development in FY19
  • Projects: home and shelter renovation for the homeless, advocacy Projects: home and shelter renovation for the homeless, advocacy

We have been serving families and fighting housing poverty in Hungary since 1996, where we have supported more than 2,600 families.

About 33% of Hungary’s population is challenged by the threat of poverty and social marginalisation. While the number of the poor grows constantly, incomes are further polarising. Housing costs are an ever growing burden for families.

Income Inequalities

Many of them lose their homes unable to pay for the expenses. In recent times, there has been much debate on the issue of homelessness.

The parliament has declared habitual residence in public places a violation, and although it was criticised heavily by international organisations and the Constitutional Court, sadly the legislation was not changed.

How We Help

Our goal is to see everyone live in decent housing that allows them to live a healthy and active life. We provide direct help for many to achieve this.

By providing cheap building materials, volunteer labour and training, we help families and communities make a difference in their housing conditions. We have also been working on advocacy for many years to achieve fair and inclusive housing policies.

Key Facts And Figures

  • Capital city – Budapest
  • Population – 9.7 million
  • Life expectancy – 76.7 years
  • Unemployment rate – 3.5%
  • Below poverty line – 12.4%

Homeless Shelters

key icon
Homeless shelters do not necessarily provide real solutions for homeless people living in public space to break out from homelessness. Our "Housing First" programme prepares homeless people living on the streets to live a self-reliant life. The aim of the programme is to enable homeless people move into and maintain their rented apartments, get employed and gradually reintegrate into society.

We renovate empty municipality owned rental apartments partly with the help of volunteers. Those moving in are also supported by complex and intensive social work to help them keep their homes.

Campaigning For Social Housing

HFH_ICON_COINS_Black
The aim of our advocacy work is achieve a fair and inclusive housing policy. Our construction projects also serve as a basis for our advocacy work. As a result of our work so far, the European Union has included provisions for pilot programmes creating access to affordable rental housing based on the concept we developed in partnership with Metropolitan Research Institute.

The first call under this heading is expected for 2016, in the value of € 3.2 million. If the pilot successfully validates the concept, it is expected to inspire policy change creating access to adequate housing for thousands of vulnerable people.

At Risk Of Homelessness

bricks construction icon
The scarcity of affordable housing is an enormous problem in Hungary. There are around 200-300 thousand families in need of low cost rental housing. Around 50 000 of these families are in severe housing crisis and on the edge of homelessness.

These families are forced to live either with relatives or friends without knowing how long they can stay, or in housing with insecure tenure, or in temporary homes. The "Second Chance" programme helps families living in temporary shelters to move into affordable rentals, and provides them with social work care and services.

Recent Blogs

Individuals served in Hungary in FY19 – 230

– Through rehabs: 30

– Through market development: 100

– Through civil society facilitation: 100

Projects: home and shelter renovation for the homeless, advocacy

Colombia

+3,700 families served / +990 volunteers hosted / Projects: holistic programmes, education, reconstruction in slum areas

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Chile

+8,790 families served / +4,680 volunteers hosted / Projects: construction, reconstruction, education

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Brazil

+12,708 families served / +2,435 volunteers hosted / Projects: construction, progressive improvements, land tenure

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Ghana

+7,500 families served / +200 volunteers hosted / Projects: home building and renovation as well as microfinance

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Bolivia

+12,891 families served / +1,000 volunteers hosted / Projects: Construction, renovation, land & women's rights, WaSH

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Germany

More than 3,800 volunteers mobilised since 2005 / Over $1.5m raised in 2015-2016

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Ethiopia

Families served in 2016: 3,305 / Volunteers hosted in 2016: 131 / Projects: construction, renovation, WaSH, slum rehabilitation

Read more

Argentina

+5,000 families served / +4,000 volunteers hosted / Projects: construction, renovation & energy upgrade

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Egypt

+27,000 homes renovated / 23,615 people served in 2016 / Projects: home building & renovations, housing microfinance

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Côte d’Ivoire

7,810 individuals served / 1,785 volunteers hosted / Projects: Homes for vulnerable groups (inc. orphans), water and sanitation

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Bulgaria

+3,000 families served / +400 volunteers hosted / Projects: construction & renovation, microfinance, advocacy

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We have been serving families and fighting housing poverty in Hungary since 1996, where we have supported more than 2,600 families.

About 33% of Hungary’s population is challenged by the threat of poverty and social marginalisation. While the number of the poor grows constantly, incomes are further polarising. Housing costs are an ever growing burden for families.

Income Inequalities

Many of them lose their homes unable to pay for the expenses. In recent times, there has been much debate on the issue of homelessness.

The parliament has declared habitual residence in public places a violation, and although it was criticised heavily by international organisations and the Constitutional Court, sadly the legislation was not changed.

How We Help

Our goal is to see everyone live in decent housing that allows them to live a healthy and active life. We provide direct help for many to achieve this.

By providing cheap building materials, volunteer labour and training, we help families and communities make a difference in their housing conditions. We have also been working on advocacy for many years to achieve fair and inclusive housing policies.

Key Facts And Figures

  • Capital city – Budapest
  • Population – 9.7 million
  • Life expectancy – 76.7 years
  • Unemployment rate – 3.5%
  • Below poverty line – 12.4%

Homeless Shelters

key icon
Homeless shelters do not necessarily provide real solutions for homeless people living in public space to break out from homelessness. Our "Housing First" programme prepares homeless people living on the streets to live a self-reliant life. The aim of the programme is to enable homeless people move into and maintain their rented apartments, get employed and gradually reintegrate into society.

We renovate empty municipality owned rental apartments partly with the help of volunteers. Those moving in are also supported by complex and intensive social work to help them keep their homes.

Campaigning For Social Housing

HFH_ICON_COINS_Black
The aim of our advocacy work is achieve a fair and inclusive housing policy. Our construction projects also serve as a basis for our advocacy work. As a result of our work so far, the European Union has included provisions for pilot programmes creating access to affordable rental housing based on the concept we developed in partnership with Metropolitan Research Institute.

The first call under this heading is expected for 2016, in the value of € 3.2 million. If the pilot successfully validates the concept, it is expected to inspire policy change creating access to adequate housing for thousands of vulnerable people.

At Risk Of Homelessness

bricks construction icon
The scarcity of affordable housing is an enormous problem in Hungary. There are around 200-300 thousand families in need of low cost rental housing. Around 50 000 of these families are in severe housing crisis and on the edge of homelessness.

These families are forced to live either with relatives or friends without knowing how long they can stay, or in housing with insecure tenure, or in temporary homes. The "Second Chance" programme helps families living in temporary shelters to move into affordable rentals, and provides them with social work care and services.