UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, expresses concern regarding the recent legislative amendment by the Hungarian Government, which significantly alters the system for subsidizing accommodation for refugees from Ukraine.
A Ukrainian refugee girl in the garden of a Municipal Reception Center in March, 2022. Photo: Zsolt Balla / UNHCR
On 28 June 2024, the Hungarian Government introduced a legislative amendment that changes the criteria for state-subsidized accommodation for Ukrainian refugees. The new requirement stipulates that only people coming from and having residence in regions listed by the Hungarian Government as “war-affected areas” at the time of entry into Hungary will qualify for subsidized accommodation.
Under the new system, refugees who do not meet the new criteria will not be provided with alternative accommodation, such as government reception facilities. While a brief possibility to submit a request for leniency was provided to vulnerable refugees regardless of their previous area of residence in Ukraine, exceptions have been limited, and this option is also no longer available for new arrivals.
When the amendment will take effect on 21 August 2024, UNHCR estimates that between 2,000 and 3,000 refugees will lose access to subsidized accommodation, including families with specific needs and vulnerabilities, pregnant women, older persons with chronic diseases, and households with a large number of small children, most of whom are enrolled into local kindergartens and schools. Many face significant barriers in securing alternative housing due to lack of financial means but also reluctance of owners to rent. For many, the change will result in job losses and impact school enrollment, jeopardizing the positive integration achievements obtained so far.
UNHCR has been consistently calling for an inclusive approach and coherence among EU Member States regarding the interpretation and application of the Temporary Protection Directive. Under the Directive, Hungary has the obligation to ensure access to suitable accommodation for persons granted Temporary Protection.
UNHCR urges the Government to reconsider this amendment. Any transition from collective shelters must be gradual and accompanied by measures to prevent situations of homelessness and destitution. Individuals affected by such transition must have access to reliable minimum social safety nets and means to obtain housing. New arrivals, regardless of their previous area of residence in Ukraine, should also be granted the possibility to access subsidized accommodation for an initial 90 days.
UNHCR appreciates the solidarity Hungary has shown towards refugees from Ukraine and the commitment to their protection, as well as efforts to promote their self-reliance and inclusion, and remains committed to working with the Hungarian Government, local authorities, and partners to find sustainable solutions that uphold the rights and dignity of refugees.
Giulia Naboni
+36 30 619 0098
[email protected]
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