“I went to work from a tent and showered at a day centre” – Móni’s story

Today, more and more people in Hungary are living in housing insecurity. Skyrocketing rents, low wages, domestic violence, addiction, or even an unexpected tragedy can easily lead to someone losing their home. At , we meet people every day who are trying to rebuild their lives from the most difficult circumstances. People who, many times, have only one thing left: their perseverance. Móni is one of those people, and in the next story of our 1% tax donation Role Model campaign, we would like to share her journey. The portraits for the series were created by Lili Chripkó.

A Childhood That Ended Too Soon

Móni was only eleven years old when she became homeless.

Instead of school trips or carefree summers, her childhood revolved around figuring out where she could sleep that night. For a while, she stayed with acquaintances, drifting from one sofa to another, and from a very young age she experienced what it feels like when the only certainty in life is uncertainty itself. 

The sense of safety that a home should provide remained completely unknown to her for many years.

Escaping Abuse

As an adult, Móni fled an abusive relationship and moved from the countryside to Budapest.

She had no money, no connections, and nowhere to go. She had only one goal: to survive and escape the life she could no longer endure.

But upon arriving in Budapest, she found herself completely alone. Without support or financial security, she eventually ended up living on the streets.

Years in the Shadow of Addiction

During the long years she spent homeless, Móni also struggled with drug addiction.

Many people do not realise how easily addiction can become an escape for those who experience trauma, vulnerability, and hopelessness every day. For people living on the streets, survival is often not only a physical struggle, but an emotional one as well.

At one point, however, Móni realised that if she did not change her life, she might never see her daughter again. At the time, her little girl was living with her grandfather, and Móni knew that the only way she could ever be part of her life again was by starting over completely.

And in the end, she walked this difficult road largely through her own strength, without professional support, with extraordinary determination.

The Hardest New Beginning

Móni overcame her addiction on her own.

She had no wealth behind her. No safety net. Only determination.

After becoming sober, she worked constantly. She cleaned offices and companies large and small, taking every job she could find. She woke up early, worked until late in the evening, and tried to save every forint she earned.

But even years of nonstop work are often still not enough in today’s housing crisis.

Because in Hungary today, many people work full-time while still being unable to secure housing for themselves. Rising rents, unpredictable living costs, and the lack of social housing trap thousands of people in an invisible cycle of insecurity for years.

Meeting the Association

Móni first came into contact with us through the Give Work! programme of . When we first met her, she was living in a one-person tent in an outer district of Budapest, only a short distance from the city centre. From there she went to work every day and returned there after work. Her colleagues would never have guessed that she was homeless, because she always arrived clean, punctual, and reliable, and there were never any complaints about her work.

Later, through one of the Association’s housing programmes, she was finally able to move into a safe home.

Then another tragedy struck her life: her father, who had been caring for her daughter, passed away. But by then, Móni already had something stable in her life. She had a home.

Thanks to secure housing and her increasingly stable life situation, she is now living together with her daughter again. The hope she held onto for so many years finally became reality.

The Cheerfulness That Carried Her Through

Móni has endured countless shocks and losses throughout her life. Many times she found herself in situations that seemed almost impossible to escape, but her determination and sense of humour never left her.

Those who know her say that even in the hardest periods, she was able to smile and give strength to others. Perhaps this is what carried her through the years when she had to start her life over again and again.

Móni’s story is not only about survival.

It is also about how, with proper support, trust, and opportunity, a person’s life can fundamentally change.

Your 1% Can Mean a Real New Beginning

At , we believe that everyone deserves a safe home and a second chance. By donating 1% of your income tax, you can help people like Móni gain stable housing and a more secure future.