Access to Housing for Ukrainian Refugees in Hungary: Key insights from the Smart UA research

12 April 2026

Within the framework of the SMART UA project, two national research strands were developed to examine access to housing for Ukrainian refugees in Hungary, focusing on both institutional responses and refugees’ lived experiences in the housing market.

The organisational mapping phase provides an overview of the actors involved in supporting access to housing, including civil society organisations, church-based actors, municipalities, and international donors. The findings indicate that, in the absence of substantial state involvement, the civil and church sectors have become the primary providers of housing assistance. However, interventions are largely project-based, and time-limited.

The mapping highl ights that most organisations provide short-term and targeted support, such as rent subsidies, temporary accommodation, and utility cost assistance. At the same time, promising practices emerge through local cooperation models, where municipalities, civil organisations and church institutions jointly deliver housing and social support. However, such partnerships remain fragmented, locally driven and not embedded in a broader national framework.

The needs assessment complements the institutional mapping analysis by examining refugees’ housing conditions and everyday experiences. The results reveal a strong reliance on the private rental market, limited access to state or institutional housing. Some rely on temporary solutions such as hostels, while employer or shelter-based accommodation is rare.

The research further highlights systemic issues such as informal affordability, employment instability, administrative barriers, language barriers, and discrimination. Additionally, overcrowding is common due to large household sizes and limited housing options, resulting in both physical discomfort and psychological strain.

The findings also highlight the hierarchy of needs among Ukrainian refugees in Hungary. Financial assistance is identified as the most urgent form of support, followed by help with furnishing, interpretation and translation services, assistance in finding housing, and access to social and legal counselling.

Together, the results emphasize that housing insecurity housing insecurity among Ukrainian refugees in Hungary is a long-term structural issue, closely linked to employment, integration, and access to services. The research underlines the need for predictable, coordinated and long-term housing support mechanisms, supported by stronger institutional cooperation and policy-level interventions.

By generating robust evidence and highlighting both challenges and good practices, these reports contribute to the overall goals of SMART UA, supporting the development of more effective and sustainable housing responses for Ukrainian refugees in Romania.