SMART UA - Szociometrum
About Szociometrum
Szociometrum Ltd. is a Hungarian research and consultancy company specializing in applied social sciences with a focus on migration, housing, labour-market integration, and social inclusion. It uses a wide range of research methods—from large-scale surveys to in-depth qualitative studies—to provide evidence-based knowledge that supports NGOs, municipalities, and international organizations.
Role in the project
Within SMART UA, Szociometrum investigates housing and labour-market integration challenges faced by Ukrainian refugees in Hungary.
Its contribution includes:
- Research and data collection: designing and conducting Hungarian fieldwork (surveys, interviews, case studies), and analysing data on housing solutions, labour-market integration, and policy frameworks.
- Knowledge transfer: ensuring Hungarian insights feed into the international project, while sharing Central-European experiences with national stakeholders.
- Policy recommendations: formulating evidence-based, practical proposals to improve housing access and labour-market opportunities for refugees and vulnerable groups.
- Innovation in methodology: applying innovative data collection and mixed-methods approaches to strengthen cross-country comparability and evidence-based policymaking.
REPORTS
Szociometrum leads the housing market research in Hungary and co-authors the national reports on housing and employment. By applying a wide range of research methods, it ensures that the reports provide reliable, evidence-based insights into structural barriers, innovative practices, and the perspectives of both refugees and host communities. Its findings also support comparability across the three participating countries.
Hungarian Housing Market Research
Explores housing barriers, landlord attitudes, and potential inclusive housing models in Hungary.
COMING SOON
Hungarian National Housing & Labour Market Report
Examines structural barriers and good practices in Hungary’s housing and employment systems for refugees.
COMING SOON
Final Comparative Transnational Report
Brings together the national studies from Romania, Hungary, and Slovakia, identifying shared challenges and innovative practices in housing, employment, and skills integration.
COMING SOON
ARTICLES
More Than Data Collection: Fieldwork Insights from the SMART UA Project in Hungary
The first research phase of the SMART UA project in Hungary mapped housing and employment support for Ukrainian refugees, while also generating key lessons for research practice. Beyond data collection, the process highlighted the importance of personal networks, trust-building, and intermediaries in engaging organisations. It also revealed a shifting support landscape, showing that flexibility and relationship-building are as vital as formal research tools.
Organisational Experiences on Housing Support for Ukrainian Refugees in Hungary
Housing remains one of the most pressing challenges for refugees from Ukraine in Hungary. The SMART UA mapping survey gathered insights from organisations providing housing assistance to refugees. The findings reveal growing needs, shrinking opportunities, and an increasing reliance on international funding and local partnerships. While civil and church actors continue to fill critical gaps, long-term solutions will require committed and supportive state engagement.
Labour Market Services for Ukrainian Refugees in Hungary
Employment remains one of the key challenges for refugees from Ukraine in Hungary, closely intertwined with housing and overall social integration. The SMART UA mapping survey on labour market services collected insights from organisations supporting refugees in job seeking, training, and workplace integration. The findings reveal growing motivation to work amid shrinking external support, fragmented systems, and limited coordination between state, civil, and church actors — showing that effective integration depends on long-term cooperation and sustainable funding.
Housing in insecurity – the housing situation of Ukrainian refugees through the lens of a Hungarian survey
The results of the needs assessment conducted within the SMART UA project show that housing insecurity among Ukrainian refugees in Hungary is not a temporary situation, but a structural problem that fundamentally shapes integration prospects. High rental costs, insecure income situations and discrimination simultaneously limit access to realistically available housing options.
Labour market participation of Ukrainian refugees in Hungary through the lens of a survey
The results of the needs assessment conducted within the SMART UA project make it clear that labour market participation among Ukrainian refugees in Hungary is not a question of individual motivation. Willingness to work is widespread; however, language barriers, caregiving responsibilities, administrative uncertainties and the limited recognition of qualifications together create structural conditions that persistently restrict access to employment.
Co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are, however, those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Social Fund Agency. Neither the European Union nor the Granting Authority can be held responsible for them.