Hungary bans sleeping rough
Print Edition
Hungary’s estimated 30,000 homeless face an uncertain winter after new laws against sleeping rough were approved this week allowing municipalities to create vagrant-free urban areas.
Pedestrian zones, parks, playgrounds, or underpasses can be declared off-limits for rough sleeping for public order, health or safety reasons.
Those who refuse to budge risk being sent on public works schemes, given fines or even jail terms for repeat offences.
UN World Heritage zones, which includes swathes of central Budapest, will now automatically be no-go-areas for the homeless, while people in “unauthorized” self-made shacks could face prison.
New York-based Human Rights Watch said the legislation was an example of the “undermining” of EU values since Prime Minister Viktor Orban came to power in 2010.
It said the measures continued a “war” on the homeless, already victimised by bylaws in some municipalities banning sifting through bins or sleeping in underpasses.
The government says the legislation will keep public spaces clean, as well as encourage the homeless to shelter in hostels.
“As well as homeless people, we have to look after those in society who expect safe, clean public spaces,” Orban’s right-wing Fidesz party said.
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