Hungary

Második Esély Sportegyesület – Second Chance Sports Association

Második Esély Sportegyesület – Second Chance Sports Association give disadvantaged and homeless people the opportunity to participate in sports and social activities. Their programmes, including regular football training sessions, are designed to improve the health of participants, promote understanding, and reduce crime in some of Hungary’s most dangerous areas. Through sports, OSA bring people together and help create valuable contacts and friendships.

ORGANISATION DETAILS

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PARTICIPANTS

Men and women who are homeless and young people who are marginalised.

LOCATIONS

Five different locations including Budapest and Szeged.

Country statistics

40 out of 189 in Human Development Index rating (UNDP, 2019)

from 2015-2018 there were an estimated 432,744 refugees (CIA Factbook, 2020).

33% of people threatened with poor housing conditions (Habitat for Humanity, 2021).

Hungary is a landlocked country bordering Austria, Croatia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Ukraine. With a population of 9.7 million, Hungary has fairly even population distribution throughout the country, with urban areas attracting larger and denser populations. The capital of Hungary, Budapest, has a population of 1.772 million people (CIA Factbook, 2020)

Part of the European Union, Hungary suffers from systemic economic challenges include corruption, labour shortages by demographic declines and migration, widespread poverty in rural areas, and changes in demand for exports (CIA Factbook, 2020).

Hungary is often used as a transitory country – from 2015-2018 there were an estimated 432,744 refugees. Youth unemployment between the ages of 15-24 years old is currently 12.8%, with the overall unemployment rate at 3.45% (CIA Factbook, 2020).

33% of the population is challenged by the threat of poor living conditions and social marginalisation, with this number growing constantly as incomes before further polarised. Housing costs are an ever-growing burden for families and many lose their homes because they are unable to meet expenses (Habitat for Humanity, 2021).

Scarcity of affordable housing is a problem in Hungary, with around 200,000-300,000 families in need of low-cost rental housing. Around 50,000 of these families are in a severe housing crisis and on the edge of homelessness (Habitat for Humanity, 2021)

In October 2018, the Hungarian government officially criminalised rough sleeping, meaning homeless people can be tried, fined, imprisoned and have their possessions burnt. The legislation has been seen to “further marginalise and even demonise vulnerable people” (FEANTSA, 2018).