The Criminalization of Homelessness
On October 15, 2018, the Hungarian government quite simply banned homelessness. What an obvious solution—how had no one thought of it before? Unfortunately, real life is not that simple…
According to the 2018 amendment to the Fundamental Law, anyone who lives habitually in public spaces commits a legal violation. If the authorities notice this, they can order the person to go to a homeless shelter. The problem is that shelters often do not seem safe due to poor hygiene and frequent thefts, so many homeless people choose to stay on the streets instead. If the police observe repeated violations, they can impose a fine on the individual. The question then becomes: how is the most disadvantaged segment of society supposed to pay this amount? The answer is obvious: they cannot. As a result, the regulation does not help those in need; in fact—it is harsh to say—it criminalizes them.
At this point, concerned citizens may wonder: what can be done? Who will help if the state does not? Fortunately, there are several organizations in Hungary whose primary goal is to ensure housing for everyone. For example, the *From Street to Home* Association refurbishes unused municipal apartments so that homeless families can move in. This excellent example shows how civil society working together can save lives and create opportunities. Instead of judging, sometimes it’s enough to imagine what it would be like if you were lying on the edge of the pavement on a cold winter night.
Help in any way you can: support foundations that work with people in need, donate, or even a kind word can make a difference. Remember, homelessness is not a crime—it is a societal problem.
According to the 2018 amendment to the Fundamental Law, anyone who lives habitually in public spaces commits a legal violation. If the authorities notice this, they can order the person to go to a homeless shelter. The problem is that shelters often do not seem safe due to poor hygiene and frequent thefts, so many homeless people choose to stay on the streets instead. If the police observe repeated violations, they can impose a fine on the individual. The question then becomes: how is the most disadvantaged segment of society supposed to pay this amount? The answer is obvious: they cannot. As a result, the regulation does not help those in need; in fact—it is harsh to say—it criminalizes them.
At this point, concerned citizens may wonder: what can be done? Who will help if the state does not? Fortunately, there are several organizations in Hungary whose primary goal is to ensure housing for everyone. For example, the *From Street to Home* Association refurbishes unused municipal apartments so that homeless families can move in. This excellent example shows how civil society working together can save lives and create opportunities. Instead of judging, sometimes it’s enough to imagine what it would be like if you were lying on the edge of the pavement on a cold winter night.
Help in any way you can: support foundations that work with people in need, donate, or even a kind word can make a difference. Remember, homelessness is not a crime—it is a societal problem.
