The Housing Poor in Budapest, Hungary : Situation and Perspectives

Abstract

The twelve years since the decline of state socialism in Hungary have been marked by a rapid increase in poverty and sharp increases in income differences between the upper and lower socioeconomic strata of society. In addition, income differences have become suddenly perceptible; poverty is now socially and politically accepted in a society previously inexperienced in these matters. Officials and opinion leaders in the national and municipal welfare systems have been unprepared to manage such a change. In short, the 1990s brought new approaches, methods, and ideas for dealing with the social problems that developed during the transition. The housing problems of the lower socioeconomic strata are, in many ways, at the very center of change. Although the housing problem is acute in some rural and economically deprived areas, this paper will focus primarily on major urban centers, and particularly Budapest. The subject of urban poverty includes a variety of subject areas that are interconnected but also have distinctive characteristics and strong connections to other social phenomena. In general, the Roma occupy a low socioeconomic status, characterised by below-average incomes. Moreover, the housing problems of this group are, in large part, the result of government and societal discrimination; as such, they will not be dealt with here. Other groups that make up the housing poor, such as those with medical, mental and psychiatric problems, also have distinct characteristics that contribute to their housing problems. The situation of such groups will be discussed only briefly.