On September 10 and 12, the Budapest district court acquitted two housing rights activists from the City is for All grassroots organization, a group where homeless people and their non-homeless allies campaign together for equal rights (including that of housing) for all citizens. The two activists tried to prevent the destruction of huts of homeless people living in a foresty area of Budapest, but they ended up handcuffed and arrested by the policemen present (see video).

My name is László Kardos, I am an activist of The City if for All. The City if for All is a grassroots organization of homeless people and their allies who fight for fundamental human rights, including the right to housing. We would like to draw your attention to one of the most severe social problems of Hungary that is homelessness. We want to achieve such a comprehensive, systemic change in our home country that allows this most vulnerable social stratum to realize their human rights and attain housing of human dignity.

“Criminalizing and penalizing homeless people for carrying out life-sustaining activities in public because there is nowhere to go is a problem across the EU” said Rina Beers, President of FEANTSA today at the European Parliament in Brussels. FEANTSA, Housing Rights Watch and Sylvie Guillaume MEP (S&D – France) co-hosted a public hearing today to raise awareness about the criminalization of homelessness in Europe.

We invite our friends all over the world to join our struggle against the tragic changes in the Hungarian legislation concerning homelessness. Our call is desperate in the sense that, despite all the good reasons and even an opposing Constitutional Court decision, a last ray of hope is the clear and strong objection of the international community to the criminalization of homelessness.

By passing a new law that would criminalize street homelessness, the Hungarian government is once again about to violate the fundamental right to human dignity, defy the country’s international obligations, and go directly in the face of the judgement of Hungarian Constitutional Court.

• In December 2010, the clearing of Budapest underground passages begins under the supervision of Mayor István Tarlós. The extra funds that are promised as part of the program never reach the homeless care institutions. 

• On 8 December 2010, Parliament adopts an amendment to the law on constructions, which allows for penalizing the improper use of public spaces as a petty offence.

• In December 2010, searching through garbage is banned in the 8^th district.

• In April 2011, the General Assembly of Budapest adopts a decree pronouncing habitation in public spaces a petty offence. The very same decree makes street music subject to permission and a payable fee.

A solidarity message by City is for All to Abahlali baseMjondolo, which is one of the biggest organisation of shack dwellers in South Africa, whose activist was recently murdered.

Dear South-African friends,

Our group, The City is for All, is made up of people who are currently homeless or have experienced homelessness, and their allies. As a group, we work for human rights and dignity for all, and for the right to adequate housing.

We are deeply saddened by the news of the recent assassination of one of your prominent activists, Nkululeko Gwala, on 26 June, in Durban. We send our deepest condolences and wish to express our solidarity with you from Budapest, Hungary. 

The City is for All has sent a report to the Venice Commission on the criminalization of homelessness by the Hungarian constitution. The report details the ways in which the pertaining paragraph of the 4th Amendment to the Fundamental Law breaches the rights of homeless people and those without proper housing. With this report, The City is for All wishes to contribute to the Venice Commission’s efforts to get a clear picture of the legal situation of Hungary, so that it can compile a succinct and unbiased report for the Council of Europe.

On May 1, 2013, The City is for All got a call for solidarity from homeless people living in a park in Tokyo. Below is our statement of solidarity with everyone living without a decent home in Japan. The original call, which explains the diffiulties that homeless people are facing in Japan can be accessed here.

Dear Japanese friends,

We, members of The City is For All wish to express our solidarity with you from Budapest, the capital of Hungary. Our group is made up of people who are currently homeless or have expeienced homelessness, and their allies. As a group, we work for human rights and dignity for all, and for the right to housing.