She Lost Everything, Now She Helps Others – Márta’s Story
Despite the housing crisis, many people still think of homelessness as the result of poor personal decisions. In reality, it is far more complex and often begins long before adulthood. In Hungary, around 23,000 young people live in state care, and after turning 18, many of them have nowhere to go, no family safety net, and often lack the basic life skills needed to navigate adulthood. In such situations, an unexpected tragedy or unstable housing can easily lead to losing one’s home. Márta’s story also has its roots in this vulnerability, yet despite the tragedies in her life, she now supports others as a peer mentor—with remarkable positivity and joy for life. The portraits for our 1% income tax campaign were taken by Lili Chripkó.
Márta did not have the safety every child deserves while growing up. She was severely abused by her mother and eventually placed into state care. As she reached adulthood, it seemed she had finally found something to hold onto. She met a man with whom she formed a deep, loving relationship. For Márta, this was not just a partnership—it was her first real experience of being accepted, supported, and feeling safe.
That sense of security, however, disappeared overnight when her partner passed away unexpectedly in his sleep.
The loss brought not only grief but also a deep and persistent sense of guilt. Márta blamed herself for a long time, replaying that night over and over in her mind. What if she hadn’t fallen asleep? What if she had noticed something? What if she had called for help in time? These questions haunted her for months, preventing her from finding peace.
She withdrew so completely that for half a year she barely left her home and was unable to continue working. The outside world disappeared, and all her energy went into processing her loss.
Eventually, step by step, she began to return to life. She found work again and gradually reopened herself to the world. It was during this time that she met András, who supported her in a completely different way than anyone before. He did not rush her or try to “fix” her—he simply stood by her patiently and helped her rebuild herself.
Their relationship grew stronger, and Márta eventually moved in with him. It was then that she realised their life together would not begin in a conventional home—András was living in a hut in the forest.
At first glance, the hut was not in terrible condition, but everyday life there was extremely challenging. There was no running water or sewage system, heating in winter was very expensive, and water had to be carried from a public fountain several kilometres away. This was not only physically demanding but required constant planning and adaptation.
Despite this, Márta and András built their life together there. Both of them worked and tried to move forward, but maintaining the hut consumed almost all their income. Firewood, travel, and basic necessities were such a financial burden that, even with steady income, they could not save enough for a rental deposit and monthly rent.
This situation was not temporary—it lasted for years. In total, they spent thirteen years living in the forest, in constant uncertainty, relying on each other.
The turning point came three years ago when they connected with the Utcáról Lakásba! Association. With our support, they were able to move into a social rental flat through our Housing First-based From Shacks to Homes programme, which fundamentally changed their daily lives. They moved into a home with running water, where they no longer had to spend hours carrying water, and where heating was no longer a matter of survival.
This change was not only physical but emotional as well. Stable housing provided security and allowed them to focus not just on survival, but on their future.
Today, Márta is not only rebuilding her own life but also helping others. As a peer mentor at ULE , she supports people who are trying to overcome similar situations. She knows exactly what it feels like to be alone with one’s problems—and how much it matters to have someone by your side to help navigate difficulties.
Although she had many reasons to give up, she kept standing back up again and again. Márta is a cheerful, kind, resilient, and resourceful woman whose home is filled with care and warmth. Her story is not about difficulties simply disappearing, but about how, with the right support and human connections, even the hardest situations can be overcome.
Márta’s story shows that even those with great strength, positivity, and perseverance may still need support in a housing crisis. By providing decent housing and social support, we can create real change—our clients can start new lives. To help more people like Márta, we need your support. Thank you if you choose to donate 1% of your income tax to us and share our work with others.
