On 2 December 2025, Housing First Europe Hub supported the From Streets to Home association in organising a World Café discussion with Hungarian municipalities at the European Youth Centre in Budapest. The discussion focused on the scope local authorities have to develop Housing First programmes that support people out of homelessness.
The event brought together municipal representatives, practitioners, and partner organisations to reflect on current challenges and identify areas for innovation within local housing systems.
Participants engaged in discussions across four thematic tables:
- Municipal housing stock and homelessness: What prevents municipalities from providing housing for people experiencing homelessness within their own housing stock, and what programmes—if any—are currently in place?
- Young people leaving state care: As a key target group for Housing First, how can municipalities use their housing stock to support young people formerly in state care, while recognising the state’s primary responsibility for prevention?
- Housing agencies: Can a housing agency model effectively support access to homes for people experiencing homelessness, and what limitations should be considered?
- Tenancy rights and allocation systems: Who currently receives tenancy rights for municipal apartments, and should more elements of the housing application system be regulated centrally by the state?
The discussions highlighted both the constraints faced by municipalities and the opportunities to strengthen local-level responses through better coordination, improved regulatory frameworks, and more innovative use of municipal housing stock.
On 3 December 2025, the From Streets to Home association and the Housing First Europe Hub co-hosted a roundtable discussion at the European Youth Centre in Budapest. The roundtable explored Housing First good practices and their potential adaptation within the Hungarian context.
The event brought together practitioners, municipal representatives, and civil society actors for a focused exchange on opportunities to strengthen Housing First pathways in Hungary. Contributions came from representatives of the Municipality of Budapest, From Streets to Home Association, BMSZKI, local partners, and Samara Jones from Housing First Europe Hub. The discussion was moderated by Laura Fritz from the Housing First Europe Hub.
Over the course of the session, participants reflected on practical experiences, emerging challenges, and the opportunities for action at local and national levels. The conversation highlighted both the existing innovations in Hungary and the need for continued collaboration to expand Housing First approaches that effectively support people out of homelessness.