With funding from the European Union and the Hungarian government, the Public Foundation for the Homeless is providing one hot meal per day, along with services designed to improve the quality of life for those in need.
Through the project “Providing Food Support for Homeless Individuals,” part of the Human Resources Development Operational Programme Plus, hot lunches will be served daily to homeless people over the next three and a half years. This initiative is one of the Human Resources Development Operational Programme Plus’s strategic “Pillars”—key actions designated by the government that play a major role in achieving the program’s goals.
This isn’t the first effort of its kind. Over recent years, several programs have been launched to improve living conditions for people experiencing homelessness. Building on the experience of a similar flagship project from the 2014–2020 programming period—“In-Kind Support for People Living in Public Spaces”—and considering today’s economic challenges, supporting homeless individuals remains a top priority.
This new initiative reaches even more people than before. Organizations already working in homeless services will receive additional resources to help them provide daily hot lunches to anyone who seeks their help. For many people without stable housing, even one nutritious meal a day can be life-saving and plays a vital role in maintaining or improving their health.
In total, 43 organizations have joined the program, setting up 98 food distribution points nationwide. Together, they can serve up to 5,000 meals per day.
But the program goes beyond just food. This year, 2,300 homeless individuals will receive comprehensive health, mental, and physical assessments. Based on these evaluations, participants will receive ongoing medical and psychological support in the years ahead.
The first step toward reintegration for people experiencing homelessness is meeting their basic needs—food, shelter, hygiene—in a safe and reliable way. Once these needs are secured, long-term support can begin: building a pathway toward employment, self-sufficiency, and independent living.
