#Ukraine Destitution and homelessness: the situation of vulnerable Ukrainian beneficiaries of temporary protection

Information and legal assistance for refugees from Ukraine

After August 21, only refugees from the Ukrainian territories affected by war operations will be entitled to central state accommodation in Hungary
Those who are now living in state accommodation, but no military operations are taking place in their former residence, can apply for continued housing until July 10, given their special situation.
The Hungarian Helsinki Committee published the sample application which, according to information, is regularized by the defense committees (védelmi bizottságok), and which can be sent through them to the government commissioner Norbert Pál, who will decide on the fate of the applicants.
The Hungarian Helsinki Committee asks those affected by the new regulation and their assistants to write to ukrainecrisis@helsinki.hu. Those whose assistance is now withdrawn by the government can request legal assistance.

 

The Hungarian government has extended the temporary protection of people from Ukraine living in Hungary for another year.

They can continue to legally live in Hungary, work, rent an apartment, go to school and use health services. They DO NOT NEED to renew their cards at the authority, they will certainly remain valid until March 4, 2025.

Information leaflets for people fleeing from Ukraine

Downloadable sample applications for refugees obliged to move out

Those who have been forced to move, but wish to remain in their current accommodation with their families, can submit an application to the locally competent Protection Committee. For this, we prepared the following sample applications:

Sample application in Hungarian here.
Sample request’s Russian translation here.

Sample response for accommodation providers to continue to receive the allowance for both parents of underage children

On 1 August, the Hungarian government amended Decree 104/2022 on the care of persons arriving from Ukraine. In violation of the Constitution, government agencies and protection commissions interpret the amended provisions as not including both parents of underage children as eligible for subsidised housing. This creates a difficult situation for families and accommodation providers alike.

The Hungarian Helsinki Committee helps accommodation providers continue to receive the allowance for both parents of minor children. We encourage accommodation providers to send the attached letter to the county government offices and protection commissions to request the daily allowance for both parents. In the meantime, please get in touch with the Helsinki Committee so that we can support you at the earliest possible stage. We are working hard to end this unlawful practice and protect the rights of the people staying with you effectively.

The Hungarian Helsinki Committee assists refugees from Ukraine. Asylum seekers can count on us.

Since 24 February 2022, we have continuously been on duty, doing what we are good at: providing information, free legal assistance and accessible information notes for those who have to flee Ukraine. We are also responding to questions from international organizations and the media about the current situation.

You can contact us here:

ukrainecrisis@helsinki.hu
facebook.com/helsinkibizottsag

 

We set up a hotline for refugees from Ukraine where we can answer your questions in Russian on Monday: 9-12, Thursday: 14-18, Friday: 10-16.

Please call us at: +36 70 302 6219

 

Did you have a problem with our services? Were you harmed in any way when receiving our assistance? Contact us!

Other aid organizations

If you need help with questions that are not legal

  • Artemisszió Foundation - Mira Intercultural Community
    The Mira Intercultural Community of the Artemisszió Foundation organizes community programs, Hungarian and other language classes and a mentoring program in the 8th district Mira House to promote the integration of migrants and refugees living in Budapest. Our community programs include trips outside Budapest, a soccer team, women’s yoga in the mornings, a moms’ club, intercultural evenings and celebrations, creative activities, information evenings, children’s and family programs. Hungarian and other languages are taught by volunteer teachers in adult, children and teen groups.
    Contact:
    • E-mail: info@mira.artemisszio.hu
    • Phone: +36 70 411 7135
    • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mirabudapest
    • Messenger: Mira Ház

     

  • Budapest Józsefvárosi Evangelical Parish - Dévai Fogadó

    The Budapest Józsefvárosi Evangelical Parish – Dévai Inn supports people fleeing Ukraine on weekdays between 9 – 17 with the following activities: housing support, vouchers, material donations, clothing fairs, community events, individual and group social case management (housing, employment, health, education), community events to support trauma processing, free childcare, Hungarian as a foreign language and English language courses, art therapy sessions, children’s programmes and summer camps.

    Contacts:

  • Cordelia Foundation

    Cordelia Foundation provides psychological assistance with psychiatrists, psychologists, special therapists, trained interpreters and other helpers to those people fleeing Ukraine. 

    Contact: 

     

  • EMMA Association

    The beneficiaries of EMMA Association’s humanitarian programme are pregnant women and women with young children who have fled Ukraine. The Association’s professionals provide them support:

    • in the form of personal support sessions, or
    • information on sexual and reproductive health issues (antenatal care, childbirth, contraception, safe abortion in crisis situations)
    • registration of newborns, registration of their nationality, and
    • maternity allowances after childbirth.

    Contact:

    • Phone: +36 70 622 3346
    • E-mail: humanitarian@emmaegyesulet.hu
    • In person on Wednesdays between 10:00 and 14:00 in Budapest at Bihari János u. 16. I./7. (doorbell: 17)
  • Jesuit Refugee Service

    The Jesuit Refugee Service helps the people fleeing from Ukraine with an accommodation programme. The JRS also helps the refugee children’s access to schools by organising teaching material on Hungarian as a foreign language and by organising workshops to children. 

    Contact:

    • jmsz.hu
    • info@jmsz.hu
    • +36 30 459 8605 Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday between 9:00-12:00
  • Kék Vonal Child Crisis Foundation

    The free helpline is also available for young Ukrainian refugees under the age of 24 who need emotional support or help. They can contact the Kék Vonal (‘Blue Line’) staff in their mother tongue, Ukrainian or Russian, every Tuesday and Thursday between 16.00 and 20.00 by phone on +36 80 984 590 or by e-mail: ukraine@kek-vonal.hu.

    https://ua.kek-vonal.hu/

  • Lutherans

    Lutherans support refugees with counselling, shelter, livelihood support and medication.

    E-mail: helpu@lutheran.hu

     

  • Menedék Association

    The Menedék Association provides a wide range of support to refugees and other foreigners through a complex social work toolkit, through individual and group sessions. We support people with their questions related to residence permits, family reunification, employment, long-term settlement, healthcare and education.

    Contact:

  • Migration Aid

    You can contact Migration Aid if you need

  • Next Step Hungary Association
    The association offers educational and community activities for refugees, other third-country nationals and vulnerable people – adults and children alike – to promote social inclusion and labour market integration. A large variety of free educational programmes are available at Next Step Hungary Association throughout the year, such as language courses, IT trainings and robotics workshops. Soft skills development activities, handcraft workshops, and community events are also common. Reduced-cost car driving courses and forklift handling courses start on an ad-hoc basis, depending on organisational capacities. The association runs a free after-school homework centre and tutoring classes for children; and summer camps are organised in July–August. Most activities are in English, some are interpreted in Ukrainian.
    Distributions of in-kind donations – such as food, clothes, shoes, hygiene products, baby items or school equipment – among refugees, other third-country nationals and vulnerable people take place occasionally.
    Next Step Hungary Association operates a temporary accommodation for women where residents in need can stay for up to 3 months, based on the referrals of partner NGOs.
    In order to remain up-to-date about the association’s most current programme offerings, people are recommended to sign up for the Next Step mailing list (scrolling to the bottom of the front page).

    Contact: 

    • Email: info@nextstepeu.org
    • Phone: +3670 325 5205 – on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday between 10:00 and 18:00
  • UNHCR Hungary

    UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, protects people forced to flee their homes because of conflict and persecution. We work in over 130 countries, protecting millions of people by responding with life-saving support, safeguarding fundamental human rights and helping them build a better future. In Hungary, UNHCR complements the Government’s efforts to support people arriving from Ukraine, coordinating with national authorities, civil society actors, and refugee-led organizations (RLOs).

    If you have any specific needs, UNHCR Hungary can point you to the right direction to receive the needed support. If you would like to receive general information on the right to seek asylum and asylum procedures in Hungary, or if you have queries about asylum-related services, you can contact UNHCR Hungary at this email address: hunbucontact@unhcr.org.

    Contact:

Updates on the protection situation in Hungary

The Hungarian Helsinki Committee provides regular, reliable information on the situation at the Ukrainian-Hungarian border and of refugees fleeing Ukraine due to the Russian invasion.

Our updates on the protection situation in Hungary from 2022:

Analysis on what Hungary is asking additional funds for from the European Union is here.

Thematic reports from 2023

 

  • Labour exploitation of refugees from Ukraine — Throughout 2022, we observed some reports of unfair labour conditions by applicants or beneficiaries of temporary protection who started to work in Hungary. Most reports complain about an unfair salary (e.g. receiving a substantially lower salary than agreed beforehand) or the fact that persons are employed without a contract.
  • The situation of Romani refugees fleeing Ukraine — This short paper summarizes the HHC’s experiences gathered through monitoring visits since the beginning of the war regarding the situation of Romani refugees in Hungary. Due to the strong anti-Roma sentiments in Hungary, many had to face additional hardship during their reception.

We regularly monitor reception facilities where Ukrainian refugees are accommodated throughout Hungary. We summarize our findings in short, thematic reports.

We do what we have always been doing: protect the rights of refugees

You can support us so that we can continue helping more people

 

Support us with donations, it will help us continue offering high quality and free legal assistance for those in need.

 

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Hungarian Helsinki Committee