From a Mother-and-Child Shelter to Becoming a Peer Mentor – Judit’s Story
In the systemic housing crisis, the lack of affordable housing forces many families into an overcrowded social care system. In 2024, 7,005 children lived in temporary homes for families with at least one parent, while even among children in children’s homes and foster care, roughly one third are removed from their families unlawfully for financial reasons. Through our 1% income tax campaign, we present the personal stories of our tenants to show that secure housing and supportive social work not only provide stability but often multiply their impact: they create opportunities for people to realise their abilities, develop their talents, and reshape both their own lives and their children’s futures. Judit Jancsó’s story is one of the most inspiring examples of this. After many years spent in mother-and-child shelters and temporary accommodations, she not only set an example for her children by completing her studies, but now also contributes as an experiential expert, peer mentor, and organiser of women’s community programmes within our organisation.
For a long time, Judit’s life with her children was defined not by stability, but by constant change and uncertainty. As a young mother, she first moved into a mother-and-child shelter, and then spent six years living with her three children in various shelters and temporary accommodations before she first heard about the Housing Agency programme of the Utcáról Lakásba! Association through her mentor. These places provided temporary refuge, but never real security—they always knew they could only stay for a limited time.
Despite this, Judit remained consistent and determined: if housing could not be stable, she made sure that other aspects of her children’s lives were. No matter where they lived, her children did not have to change schools or kindergartens. This often meant travelling for hours every day—leaving at dawn and returning late in the evening. She consciously created a sense of continuity for her children, so they could feel safe even when their housing situation kept changing. During this time, Judit also obtained a childcare assistant qualification.
Although she worked and studied, as a single mother she could not afford a market-rate rental large enough for four people, especially with rapidly rising rents. Finding a flat with children is also extremely difficult in today’s housing market. In addition to unaffordable rents, landlords often reject applicants with children from the outset. Through our Housing Now! Social Rental Agency , clients—primarily coming from shelters and temporary accommodations—can rent flats from private landlords at socially adjusted rent levels, while also receiving intensive, personalised social support. (Service flats within the programme are available to social workers and nursery staff through our trade union partners, SZÁD and BDDSZ.)
Like many of our tenants, Judit could hardly believe in 2019 that she and her three daughters would finally be able to start a new life through the Association’s Social Rental Agency. Their new home brought a dramatic improvement in their quality of life—something incomparable to their previous conditions. In their affordable and comfortable home, they finally felt safe and had enough space: they no longer had to live four people in one room or share kitchens and bathrooms with others. They gained independence and freedom, no longer having to adapt to institutional rules or other residents. For the first time, they could plan their future without the fear of having to move again soon.
Judit has been working at the same place for eight years, and with remarkable determination and perseverance, she completed her secondary school diploma through evening classes after moving in—at times while working two jobs. Achieving this was especially important to her, as she wanted to set an example for her daughters and show them that education can open new opportunities in life.
With the support of the Association, Judit not only transformed her own and her children’s lives, but also set out to help others. In September 2025, she joined the Peer Mentor Programme, where she now supports people who are going through similar challenges she once faced, drawing on her own lived experience. She was invited to become a mentor by the Association’s staff because of her strong understanding of people’s situations and her ability to help others navigate everyday challenges.
Judit is a positive, resilient, and dynamic person who always looks ahead and values personal growth. She brings humour and positive energy to the peer mentor group, and is known for her sharp insights and direct, meaningful questions. She clearly understands the structural causes behind housing poverty and can recognise these patterns in individual life stories. She actively contributes ideas and enthusiastically participates in planning and delivering our spring women’s community programmes.
Judit’s story clearly shows that even those with great strength and determination may still need support in a housing crisis. With access to decent housing and intensive social work, our clients can truly start new lives—and the impact multiplies across both their own lives and those of their children. To help more people like Judit, we need your support. Please consider donating 1% of your income tax to us and share our work with others.
