Organisational Experiences on Housing Support for Ukrainian Refugees in Hungary

As part of the SMART UA project’s mapping phase, we surveyed organisations in Hungary that work directly with refugees from Ukraine and provide various forms of housing assistance. The findings confirm that housing remains one of the most critical aspects shaping refugees’ daily lives and their chances of integration.

Growing Needs, Shrinking Opportunities

According to the organisations consulted, housing needs have not decreased — in fact, in many cases, they have intensified as the war drags on and families’ resources are depleted. However, many support schemes have expired, and new funding sources are increasingly difficult to access. Several organisations reported that, following the end of state or international funding, they can only continue their housing programmes in a limited form.

In the absence of substantial state involvement, the civil and church sectors have become the main providers of housing assistance, often taking on additional social and integration tasks alongside providing accommodation.

Support Schemes in Practice

Most organisations participating in the study provide short-term, targeted support, such as rent subsidies, temporary accommodation, or utility cost assistance. A few more complex, integrated housing programmes are also in operation, funded by the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF), yet these one- to two-year projects face significant challenges in maintaining their results over time.

Respondents noted that supported housing is typically time-limited, while the rental market remains expensive and discriminatory. Many organisations reported that landlords are reluctant to rent to refugees or refuse to sign formal rental contracts, which makes it impossible to access state or employer-based housing support schemes.

Organisational Cooperation and Partnerships

The responses highlight that collaboration is key to sustaining and making housing support effective. In several local cases, municipalities, church institutions, and civil organisations jointly provide housing or rental support – one offering infrastructure, another funding, and a third social accompaniment.

The research shows that these partnership models work, but they are not integrated into national frameworks: every cooperation is unique, project-based, and time-limited.

Beneficiary Needs and Target Groups

Organisations working on the ground emphasised that the Ukrainian refugee community in Hungary is highly diverse, and so are their housing needs. For working adults, the main priority is affordable rent and stable employment, while families with children seek security of tenure and community support. For elderly people, those with illnesses or disabilities, housing problems often intertwine with health and care-related difficulties. Meanwhile, Roma refugees face additional barriers due to discrimination on the rental market.

Most organisations agree that more flexible and needs-based support schemes are required. Current programmes are often restricted by legal status or project frameworks, excluding many in need. Particularly disadvantaged are dual (Hungarian–Ukrainian) citizens, including many Roma families from Zakarpattia, who — since a regulatory change in August 2024 — are no longer eligible for state-provided accommodation or for housing programmes financed through the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF).

Service Providers’ Insights and Lessons

The findings suggest that housing support for Ukrainian refugees in Hungary currently relies mainly on local, cooperation-based initiatives. These partnerships demonstrate that civil and church actors can respond flexibly to emerging needs — at least as long as international funding remains available. In the long run, however, such models cannot replace state responsibility. Sustainable housing support requires committed and supportive state engagement, working in partnership with civil and church organisations.