ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the ways in which homelessness has been shaped by a constantly changing welfare and housing policy environment in Hungary. The Hungarian definitions of homelessness and the scale and nature of homelessness are discussed. This chapter also looks at the current state of service provision and policy in relation to homelessness. Controversial decisions and their implications are explored. These include the 2013 and 2018 amendments to the Hungarian Constitution, the latter of which banned habitual residence in public space, i.e. making living rough “unconstitutional”, with policy being put in place that was supposed to guarantee that services would be available to mean that living rough was unnecessary. This chapter concludes with an assessment of the effectiveness of policy responses to homelessness in Hungary.
