Housing in insecurity – the housing situation of Ukrainian refugees through the lens of a Hungarian survey

In the final phase of the SMART UA project’s comprehensive, housing-focused research, a needs assessment was conducted among Ukrainian refugees. This phase was preceded by desk research, organisational mapping and the identification of good practices. The online questionnaire was distributed by civil society and faith-based aid organisations among their clients; therefore, the findings do not reflect the entire Ukrainian refugee population in Hungary, but rather the situation of households already connected to the civil support system.

Most respondents are women, with a particularly high proportion of mothers with young children. Half of the sample (N=167) belongs to the 35–54 age group, suggesting that many left behind relatively stable livelihoods in Ukraine. In terms of education, people with higher education are overrepresented: nearly 60 percent hold a university degree, while a further quarter have completed secondary education.

Almost three quarters of respondents have been living in Hungary for more than three years, most of them having arrived in spring 2022. This indicates that even after an extended period of time, many households within the civil support system are still unable to sustain their housing independently. Eighty-four percent of the sample are Ukrainian citizens under temporary protection, while the proportion of dual citizens is lower. This reflects the fact that the main funding source of support organisations (the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund) supports third-country nationals.

The picture that emerges regarding housing conditions clearly shows the dominance of the private rental market. Three quarters of respondents live in privately rented apartments or houses, while an additional 11 percent rent a single room in such properties. Although to a lesser extent, some respondents live in guesthouses or hostels, pointing to the lack of long-term housing solutions. Employer-provided accommodation and refugee shelters play only a marginal role.

This distribution indicates that the housing of Ukrainian refugees is almost entirely embedded in market conditions, with institutional or state-supported housing solutions appearing only sporadically. The vast majority of dwellings are privately owned, with only a negligible share linked to civil, church-based or municipal providers.

The burden of housing costs is highly differentiated. While 77 percent of households cover their housing expenses partly or entirely on their own, nearly one quarter rely fully on other actors—primarily civil and faith-based organisations—to pay for their housing. This delineates a clearly identifiable and particularly vulnerable group, for whom the withdrawal of support would result in immediate housing crisis.

Housing does not appear solely as a financial issue. A significant share of respondents received additional assistance with purchasing furniture and household equipment, renovating their homes, or

communicating with landlords, as well as social and legal counselling. These findings highlight that housing problems also have legal, administrative and everyday life dimensions.

At the core of housing insecurity lies affordability. The vast majority of respondents feel that their financial situation makes stable housing difficult or impossible. Ninety-three percent identified high rents as a major problem, and 70 percent reported that affordable dwellings are too small or of poor quality. The lack of stable, formally registered employment further exacerbates the situation: many employed respondents work informally, rendering their income “invisible” to landlords and increasing mistrust.

Entry into the housing market is also hindered by documentation and legal barriers. One quarter of respondents face difficulties due to the lack of a bank account, employment contract or address registration card—documents frequently required by landlords. Language barriers further compound these challenges: half of respondents stated that insufficient Hungarian language skills pose a serious obstacle to finding housing, understanding contracts and handling administrative procedures.

Experiences of discrimination are also widespread. Nearly half of respondents reported that landlords are reluctant to rent to refugees, and two thirds believe that families with young children are particularly likely to be rejected. Dual citizens in the sample reported such discrimination significantly less frequently.

Household composition itself places additional pressure on housing conditions. More than half of respondents live in households of two or three people, while nearly 40 percent share a dwelling or room with four or more people. The sample is dominated by households with children, and multi-generational living arrangements are also common. As a result, overcrowding becomes a structural problem. Families are often forced to live in spaces smaller than their needs, which in the long run carries not only comfort-related but also psychological risks.

One quarter of respondents plan to move in the near future, while more than one third are uncertain. The intention to move is driven primarily by financial reasons: unaffordable rents, rising housing costs and the risk of losing housing support. The quality and size of the dwelling also appear as factors, but with less weight.

The ranking of needs is clear. Ninety-two percent of respondents identified financial support as the most important form of assistance. This is followed by support for furniture and household equipment, interpretation and translation services, help with finding housing, and social work and legal counselling. These findings demonstrate that housing support cannot be reduced to paying rent alone; rather, complex and multidimensional interventions are required.

One of the most important conclusions of the research is that the lack of housing security is not an isolated problem. It is closely linked to employment, children’s schooling, access to healthcare and overall integration prospects. In the current situation, civil and church-based organisations are filling systemic gaps, while their funding remains project-based and time-limited.

Based on the survey data, it is clear that the housing situation of Ukrainian refugees in Hungary is not a temporary humanitarian issue but a long-term structural challenge. Addressing it effectively requires the simultaneous presence of affordability, legal and administrative security, and social support—and cannot rely solely on civil society capacities.

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.