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Winter chill heats up Hungary's homeless problem


By: All Hung(a)ry News

2008-11-25 11:37 With winter having arrived, attention has turned to the estimated 23,000-30,000 homeless people around Hungary. At least six homeless people died in the cold weather over the weekend, a figure that on average reaches 300-400 every year.

Miklós Vecsei of the Foundation for the Homeless told Népszabadság that although his organization offers enough beds to accommodate them, increasing numbers of homeless are suffering from psychiatric treatment and alcoholism, rendering them unable or unwilling to take advantage of available shelter. Most shelters operate a ban on alcohol, although the high risk of theft also keeps people away. He added that between 60 and 80 tuberculosis sufferers are also on the streets of Budapest, putting the public at risk of infection. 

Action is being taken to ease the situation, with four new 24-hour health care centres opening in the capital, as well as in Miskolc and Pécs. The initiatives offer temporary relief to any homeless people who are weak or ill. In addition, a "social care hub" offering food, showers and toilets and beds for between 50 and 100 people will soon be opened near the Nyugati railway station.

Imre Ikvai-Szabó, deputy mayor tasked with the homeless issue, told MTI that the city of Budapest will spend Ft 2.5 billion on supporting the homeless, of which Ft 370 million will be distributed among 28 non-profit organizations. Nine charities will hand out food on the streets, totalling an average of 1,200 hot and cold meals during the winter months.

The government has also launched a three-year, Ft 4.5 billion program to rehabilitate the homeless, both by helping them finance rented accommodation and providing starting capital to re-enter the job market, writes ingatlanmagazin.hu.

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