Habitat for Humanity Hungary

Contact information HFH Hungary Podmaniczky u. 91.fsz 1 Budapest 1062 Hungary Phone: +36 13541084 Fax: +36 3541085 E-mail: sumeghy.gyorgy@habitat.hu         Web site www.habitat.hu				Habitat's Work in Hungary New families served this year*: 104 Total homes constructed/rehabilitated: 146 House sponsorship cost: US$61,400         Hungary News and Stories We helped build it! Habitat’s CEO and staff roll up their sleeves in Hungary
Country profile

One in four homes in Hungary overcrowded
Since joining the European Union in 2004, Hungary‘s economic gap with the rest of the EU has narrowed, but hefty social problems that include a growing chasm between the rich and the poor have emerged. And, more than ever, Hungary still struggles to improve its housing stock for low-income families.

After the fall of communism in the late 1980s, housing privatization began in Hungary, causing long-term problems for families in need. First, the public rental sector shrank dramatically, resulting in waiting lists for more than 10 years. The small percentage of units that remain in public ownership generally consist of one room and lack basic amenities. The few privately owned rental units are also generally in poor condition.

Moreover, houses that were privatized were sold by the government at artificially low prices. While many new owners could buy their houses, they could not afford to maintain and repair them. Rising utility costs did not help.

Inadequate housing is an important aspect of poverty in Hungary. According to the Hungarian Central Statistical Office, about 1 million homes, or about one in every four households, in Hungary are overcrowded. About 500,000 people live in homes without a flush toilet, and close to 1 million live in houses without piped water. Like most poverty issues, substandard housing affects proportionally more children than adults and is part of a cycle of poverty in which poor standards of living lead to poor performance at school, unfavorable positions on the labor market and increasing levels of poverty.


Habitat for Humanity in Hungary
Habitat for Humanity Hungary was founded in 1996, when former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and more than 500 volunteers built 10 homes within one week in Vác. Since then, Habitat for Humanity has helped 198 families to have a decent place to live. Currently Habitat for Humanity Hungary has homes in Vác, Csepel, Dunavarsány, Göd and Csurgó, with ongoing building projects in Szarvas and Hajdúböszörmény. A new site will be opened in the spring 2009. Besides a successful new-construction program that has enabled more than 198 families so far to move into their own simple, decent and affordable homes, Habitat for Humanity Hungary is also involved in a repairs and renovations program for families who cannot afford to maintain their existing homes.

A great part of the need for Habitat for Humanity Hungary’s individual repair projects stems from the high inflation of the 1990s. Home maintenance costs grew in that decade from 10 percent of the average Hungarian family’s income to about 50 percent, rendering many low-income families unable to look after their homes. Typical problems Habitat for Humanity Hungary addresses in this program include upgrading doors and windows, fixing roofs, changing sections of walls, and adding bathrooms. Often these projects improve energy efficiency, leading to reduced environmental impact and lower energy bills for the homeowners.

Habitat for Humanity Hungary also seeks active partnerships with municipalities. Its work brings great benefits to the local community and this motivates local partners to support our work. Municipal authorities and institutions support Habitat for Humanity Hungary in various ways, including donations of land, assistance with family selection and obtaining building permits.


Global Village
Habitat for Humanity Hungary’s Global Village hosting program has received the award for best hosting program in Europe and Central Asia for two consecutive years. In 2006, its hosting program in Csurgo was recognized, and, in 2007, the program in Szarvas was honored. Habitat for Humanity Hungary hosts more than 30 volunteer teams from the U.S., Great Britain, Ireland, Germany, Northern Ireland, Canada, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Italy and other countries every year. HFH Hungary also has a strong local corporate and international school involvement.

Habitat Highlights
• Habitat for Humanity Hungary’s Global Village hosting program has received the award for best hosting program in the Europe and Central Asia region in two consecutive years (2006 and 2007).

• Habitat for Humanity Hajdúböszörmény, the newest affiliate in Hungary, received a prestigious internal Habitat for Humanity award last year for the combination of its partnership with the local municipality and its external financial solution.