The international non-profit organization, Habitat for Humanity was founded in 1976 by Millard and Linda Fuller. Since then, the center of the organization has been in the US in Americus (Georgia), where the idea first bore fruit. Local farmer and Bible researcher Clarence Jordan elaborated the basic concept together with the founders. They came up with the model of community-based construction, that is, beneficiaries and volunteers working together at construction works, as well as building affordable homes with the power of the community and without a profit, which has been a central idea of Habitat ever since.

Based on the same principles, Habitat for Humanity is now present in more than 60 countries of the world, operating over 1000 local organizations around the US. The aim of Habitat is to make dignified, healthy and affordable housing accessible to all. One of its primary tools is building affordable houses with the help of volunteers and the active participation of the beneficiary families. From their formation to the end of 2021, Habitat organizations have improved the housing situation of more than 39 million people worldwide.

The most significant housing problems of different countries vary, and so do their most efficient solutions. Therefore, Habitat-programs of the past decades have taken various forms as well. Besides building new houses, Habitat organizations around the world support those in need through renovating residential buildings, giving microloans, providing quick housing aid after catastrophes, providing access to drinking water, exploiting renewable energy sources, providing training and a multitude of other projects in order to make people capable of maintaining and renovating their own homes.

Another important field of Habitat’s activities is related to research and advocacy initiations, aimed at creating appropriate policies and technical solutions to the problems of people experiencing housing poverty.

The number of people living in housing poverty in Hungary today is approximately three million. Such a significant issue may only be tackled through a wider cooperation and efficient housing policies. Our pilot projects and advocacy activities are designed to help people in Hungary in need of a decent home.

Since its foundation in 1996, Habitat for Humanity Hungary has built more than 150 houses, renovated nearly 900 homes, provided technical counselling to improve the housing of 700 families, carried out household management and other training programs with the participation of 1100 people, and thus, supported 2800 families altogether.

Besides our work on the field, we have been conducting research, policy analysis, drafting policy recommendations as well as engaging in advocacy activities in order to facilitate policies that can provide solutions for the complex problems of people living in housing poverty.

Our organization is considered unique among Hungarian civic organizations as well as housing organizations for its hybrid operation: we combine field projects with research and advocacy activities, achieving higher efficiency by the two areas complementing each other.

Besides its all-year-round programs, the organization often joins social initiatives such as building a workshop to employ people living with disabilities, renovating the roof of an elderly home, or giving construction advice to children’s homes.

The operation of Habitat for Humanity Hungary is based on the cooperation of diverse actors, including authorities, municipalities, NGOs, corporations and individuals. Our projects are developed as a model to demonstrate new ways and methods to solve housing problems. Since we are walking an uncharted path, there is no central resource coming from the government or else to finance our programs. We are thankful for the help coming from our corporate and individual donors and volunteers, enabling us to develop new, efficient ways of support, which we would not be able to fund without their contribution.

We are also grateful for the cooperation of our partner organizations: NGOs and social service providers who connect us with families and individuals in need of a decent home. They know their clients and inform them about the opportunities we provide, as well as tell us all the important details necessary to provide efficient help in a given situation. When developing policy recommendations for decision makers, we closely cooperate with our partner organizations, making the dialogue within the housing sector an important part of our advocacy work.

As we gain more insight and start new programs to provide help as efficient, quick and flexible as possible, we hope to involve ever more organizations and individuals through whom our activities can be multiplied around the country.

Volunteering

Volunteering is one of the core values of Habitat and an invaluable part of our work. Following Habitat’s tradition, we renovate homes with the help of our volunteers and also involve in an increasingly wide range of activities. Their work and support are essential to our projects, through which we make affordable housing accessible to families in need.

As we aim to build a strong and lasting community among our volunteers, we primarily collaborate with local (Hungarian-speaking) communities and teams from Hungarian companies, institutions. This community-based approach strengthens both the impact and sustainability of our work.

Beyond Habitat and the volunteers themselves, this activity is also important for those receiving support. The shared experience of working together on-site, along with the kindness and solidarity of volunteers, is truly empowering. Since 1996, Habitat for Humanity Hungary has worked together with several thousand national and international volunteers. Together, we build not only homes, but also communities and hope.

Currently, we have four field programs focusing on construction, supporting the most exposed social groups suffering from housing problems. Habitat for Humanity Hungary’s direct assistance programs, following the initial house construction phase, now primarily focus on improving the living conditions of people experiencing housing poverty and those in municipal rental apartments. These efforts aim to make homes safe and livable through renovation and modernization, in response to domestic housing challenges. A distinctive feature of the programs is that supported families are actively involved in the process, becoming participants in the renewal of their own homes.

The Second Chance program aims to provide independent, safe and affordable housing for families with children who, due to the loss of their home or the lack of affordable rental housing or their own property, have lived in temporary homes for years. Within the framework of the program, we renovate vacant, poor-conditioned municipal rental apartments with the involvement of our volunteers and the families moving in, making them rentable and providing an affordable solution for families to build a stable life.

The aim of our “Támasz” (Support for Families) program is to improve the safety of the homes of households struggling with housing difficulties through minor renovations and interventions. We have helped more than 220 households nationwide since the launch of the support program in 2019. The program does not just provide financial assistance: it creates safer and more livable homes for families and seniors who otherwise do not have sufficient resources for construction or maintenance work.

Within the framework of our Family Village program, we work with families with children so that they can access Rural CSOK state subsidy, which can help them renovate or modernize their homes. The program provides simple, comprehensive support for families: pre-financing – we prepay the costs of renovation work, so families do not need to have their own capital to get started; personal mentoring – our specialists will assist you in preparing the application, handling banking procedures, and making decisions related to the renovation; quality implementation – Habitat uses verified, reliable contractors to ensure that renovations and modernizations are durable and safe.

Key and essential renovations in the homes of families in difficult circumstances. The Roofs and Walls program aims to provide nationwide support for the renovation of residential properties where the structural elements of the building – primarily the roof and walls – are in such poor condition that they endanger the safety, energy efficiency and habitability of the home. The program follows the principle that it is worth starting the renovation of a home with the most structurally critical elements: a stable roof and solid walls can prevent further deterioration and create the basis for safe housing.

Advocacy and research

Housing poverty is not only a social issue, it is the result of policy choices. In Hungary, as in much of Europe, access to affordable and adequate housing has been deteriorating for years, while comprehensive housing policy responses remain limited. We work to change this by bringing evidence, field experience, and practical solutions into policy discussions.

Annual report on housing – Since 2012, we have been publishing each year our annual report on housing in Hungary, one of the most widely used references on the topic. The report analyses key policy developments, national budget expenditures, housing affordability, and structural challenges such as housing quality and energy poverty. By combining data analysis with expert contributions, it supports public understanding, and is widely used by academic researchers, as well as by national policy makers.

We are also active members of the Hungarian Housing Coalition, working together with other organisations to advocate for fair and effective housing policies. Through joint proposals, public campaigns, and engagement around national and local elections, we contribute to strengthening housing policy as a public priority.

Download our Annual reports on housing poverty in English:

• 2019
• 2020
• 2021
• 2022
• 2023
• 2024
• 2025

Tackling energy poverty – Energy poverty is a central focus of our work. Poor housing conditions and high energy demand leave many households vulnerable to rising energy prices and climate impacts. Through research, pilot and demonstration projects, and international cooperation, we work to ensure that climate and energy policies also address social needs. Our goal is to promote solutions that are socially just by supporting households, informing decision makers, and helping shape better policies at national and local level.

Our approach combines practical interventions with policy development. We test solutions on the ground, while simultaneously analysing the regulatory and financial frameworks that shape these opportunities. This allows us to identify what works in practice for low-income and vulnerable households, and translate these lessons into concrete policy recommendations.

We also contribute to shaping emerging  national frameworks addressing energy poverty. Our work includes developing policy proposals, engaging with decision makers, and supporting local actors, such as municipalities, in designing and implementing measures to alleviate energy poverty. By connecting local experience with national and EU-level processes, we help ensure that new policies and funding instruments effectively reach those most affected.

In the BlackFlat 3.0 proposal package, as a continuation of our previous campaigns and research, we present a detailed policy concept to improve the situation of those living in the private rental sector. We make suggestions regarding regulations and interventions that address the two most severe problems in the rental housing market: high rents and a lack of legal security. The instruments we are proposing aim at creating a fairer and more transparent private rental housing market. In the meantime, we kept in mind that the proposed changes need to be easily integrated into the current institutional-legal environment and would not impose a disproportionate financial burden on the state treasury.

Studies published by Habitat Hungary in English are available here.

Download our yearly Impact reports in English:

• 2024
• 2025