Awareness Raising
Housing is a public issue — and solving it is a public responsibility
Our advocacy work
Within our programs, we seek solutions to housing challenges that are especially pressing in the current housing crisis and can fill important gaps, providing support to people who have no viable options in today’s social environment. We currently provide or support housing for more than 250 people. Several of our programs — particularly our Housing First-based From Shacks to Homes program, our Social Rental Agency initiative, and our Youth Housing Program for young people leaving state care — aim not only to deliver direct support, but also to present scalable models that can be shared with municipalities and other actors who may join as implementers or supporters, thereby increasing the social impact and wider adoption of these solutions.
At the same time, our goal is to shape public attitudes and show that housing is a public issue, and that addressing housing problems is a public responsibility. Housing is a human right, and people experiencing homelessness or housing poverty are people too.
Social Rental Agency – partnership or scaling opportunity for municipalities
Social Rental Agency Handbook for municipalities
From Shacks to Homes – cooperation opportunities for municipalities
From Shacks to Homes
Women’s perspectives – gender aspects of the housing crisis
Featured in the media – our top press appearances
- RTL Reggeli: Influencer protest – housing secured for eight young people within one year
- Partizán: From Bicske to the streets, from the streets to a home – one year after the influencer protest
- Partizán: “All I have to do is look in the fridge, I have everything” – Hajni’s story | PartizánDOKU
- Partizán: From war and shacks to a home – the story of Jutka and Márta
- Nők Lapja: “I want a better future for my daughters!”
- Népszava: We cannot let go of our clients’ hands – there is a way out of homelessness in Hungary, but it requires full commitment
- Radio Free Europe: After 30 years of homelessness, Jutka moved into a rental home
- NLC: “They said we’re not real homeless people because we speak fluently and don’t drink”
- 444: “For years I stayed with him because I couldn’t afford a place on my own”
- Magyar Narancs: “People without housing should not be treated as homeless, but supported to exit homelessness”
- 24.hu: A man living in a cave for 30 years finally got a chance at life
Our publications and policy materials
- Vera Kovács on Telex: Everything blamed on the boys from Szőlő Street is the government’s failure – and housing could be part of the solution
- Vera Kovács in ALAP Magazine
- Articles by our colleagues in Mérce from the “Housing Now” series (edited by us for 10 months)
- Articles by Vera Kovács in Mérce
- Vera Kovács: Paths in the Forest
- Action plan for the Metropolitan Social Rental Agency
- Social Rental Agency Handbook for municipalities
- Social Rental Agency Handbook for municipalities
- Katalin Ámon: Supporting homeless women in Budapest
- Guide to addressing domestic violence in relationships
- Expanding housing policy opportunities in Budapest District II
- Presentation on expanding housing policy opportunities in Budapest District II
- Fair Dialogue: A handbook on homelessness and housing poverty for journalists
- Good municipal practices in housing for people with disabilities
- World Habitat guide: How to use your home
- World Habitat guide: Energy-efficient renovation
- Article by Viktória Molnár in Mérce
- Article by Vera Kovács on 24.hu
Discover our impact – videos and client stories
From shelter to a stable home
We cannot let go of our clients’ hands
After 30 years of homelessness, Jutka moved into a rental home
Fairy tales also depend on us
Every contribution matters
Volunteering and participation
Volunteering and participation play a key role in the life of the Association: they are just as important resources for implementing our fieldwork as they are for shaping public attitudes. As part of this, we organise and host corporate, university and high school volunteer days, and we also provide opportunities for our clients to get involved in renovating their own homes and participating in the life of the Association.
Volunteer days offer unique opportunities for meaningful encounters between our clients and people from the wider society. At the same time, we also rely on the lived experience and expertise of our tenants and supported clients in our work.
We welcome volunteers for construction-related volunteer days, transportation tasks, staffing stands at events, and even baking. In addition, pro bono volunteers support us with professional tasks such as photography, proofreading, graphic design, and layout work.
Media appearances about volunteer days
Christmas miracle: two more homeless families can move from the streets into homes
After years on the streets, a couple moves into a renovated rental apartment in Budapest
Photos from volunteer days
Volunteering
As a volunteer, you can take part in apartment renovations and get involved in many aspects of our work
For companies
As a company, you can support us through one-time donations, long-term partnerships, pro bono services, or team-building volunteer days.