More than 460 homeless people were registered in one night in Budapest

2024-10-14 17:53:00

461 homeless people were registered in public areas in Budapest on October 11, he said Peter Győrichairman of the board of trustees of the Menhely Foundation, at a press conference on the first results of the capital’s homeless census on Monday in Budapest, according to the telegraph office.

The chairman of the board of trustees announced: with the participation of volunteers, they assessed how many people in areas within Budapest – in the area within the Hungarian boulevard – spend the night without cover.

During the “visual inspection” carried out between eight o’clock in the evening and midnight, 133 homeless people who are located were registered, as well as 328 homeless people “sitting, walking, wandering” the latter were assumed to be without shelter based on their appearance, their clothes, and their belongings – he explained, adding that the other 30 volunteers found a place to sleep.

Péter Győri said: 78 percent of the homeless people registered during the night inspection are men, and most of them are middle-aged, 30-49 years old. Although there are usually many elderly people in hostels, only 3 per cent of those who stayed overnight in public areas were over 65, he said. The investigation also showed that the majority of homeless people (58 per cent) were alone, but a surprising number stayed in public spaces in pairs (20 per cent) and groups (22 per cent), continued he continued, indicating that the count is not. includes those registered in the care system, who sleep in hostels and shelters where they are homeless, because those who spend the night in the public square are specifically registered.

Péter Győri emphasized the following: next year, they plan to survey the area outside the Hungarian boulders in Budapest, and they want to repeat the survey every 3-5 years to ensure that everyone can be included in the care system.

Peter Breitnerthe professional deputy director of the Budapest Social Center of Methodology and Institutions (BMSZKI), emphasizes: they work consciously to ensure that “these numbers do not remain at the level of academic knowledge.” Péter Breitner also mentioned that the BMSZKI is in contact with about 3,000 homeless people every day, of whom 1,230 slept in temporary accommodation, 650 in night shelters, and 120 in temporary family homes. He also reported that the percentage of psychiatric patients among the homeless is high, 30 percent, which is why the BMSZKI already works through a shelter where they are given special care. He added: a house was also opened for people with addiction problems, where alcohol is allowed to be consumed.

Nora Teller head of research, an employee of Városkutatás Kft pointed out for comparison: the total population of the part of the city inside the ring road of Hungary is 440,000 people, and 1.3 million people live in Budapest in the areas outside the ring road. He also announced that the homeless census will be implemented as part of an EU project, and that 15 cities from 10 European countries will participate in the data collection. The multi-stage project will also include a compilation based on administrative data of the care system, and a questionnaire survey based on voluntary responses will also be carried out, which will map the living situation, plans, problems and housing options of the homeless. , he explained.