Punishment instead of support? This is not the solution!

If the City of Budapest votes for the proposal, rough sleeping shall become an offence – Menhely Foundation shall use every legal tool in its reach to make sure that no rough sleeper shall suffer the consequences of this decree, and shall mobilize all possible social networks to offer humane solutions for homeless people instead of imprisonment.

 

We are not fighting for the right of people to sleep rough in the 21st century, during an era of peace. Just the contrary. We are struggling, working and lobbying at all forms of government and local council that they finally take steps to efficiently ensure the safe housing of their inhabitants, that they finally and properly tackle the problems of rooflessness and homelessness, and the vulnerability and suffering that these conditions result in.

Intimidation, punishment, imprisonment or threatening people with any of these measures offer no solution, nor do they bring any of the stakeholders closer to solving the undesired effects of these living situations. During the past twenty years, social organizations, homeless services have saved thousands of people from freezing to death, have helped tens of thousands of homeless people off the streets and into more humane conditions, have offered shelter for those just having lost their housing. Mere drops in the bucket. In the meantime thousands more have drifted to the margins of society, who are now threatened with punishment because of their poverty.

We claim it to be absurd and unacceptable, that while through the past decades no government has managed to improve the living conditions of the poorest among us, that while tens of thousands of families are trembling because of the threat of an eviction, that while many, due to the lack of adequate support and the lack of a job, have fallen and hit rock bottom; some desire to fine or imprison those who do not have any place to live!

There are several thousand people sleeping rough, and a new wave of evictions has started. The City aims to create punitive measures while it has just annulled its contracts with NGOs providing services for the homeless, it has significantly decreased the budget to offer solutions, and has not added any new beds to the services already available.

Menhely Foundation also wants order: but order begins when every person has a home – no matter how small – and noone is forced to live deprived of their human dignity.

 

Dr. Győri Péter

Menhely Foundation

Chairman of the Board

 

 

I wish to join the fight of Menhely Foundation and homeless of Budapest!

For more information about the Foundation, please visit: www.menhely.hu

Or contact: Ferenc Matlári support worker       +36 20 318 03 94   matlari.ferenc@menhely.hu)