The document outlines a social housing reconstruction initiative in Hungary (2009-2013) aimed at addressing the challenges faced by tenants in impoverished conditions. It highlights community involvement through volunteer projects that renovate housing units, improve living conditions, and reduce tenant debt, while also fostering empowerment and social responsibility. Key partnerships with organizations like Habitat for Humanity and various local NGOs have facilitated the program's success, resulting in considerable community benefits and a push for sustainable social housing solutions.

1. SOCIAL HOUSING
RECONSTRUCTION CAMP
KINGA MULLER
HUNGARY
2009-2013

2. College for Advanced Studies in
Social Theory
2O09,
Nagykanizsa

3. College for Advanced Studies in
Social Theory 2
- Corvinus University of Budapest Hungary (University
of Economics)
- 60-100 active members
- organise lectures, courses, workshops
- strong links to Civil Society Organisations,
volundteering, social responsability
- also a community

4. College for Advanced Studies in
Social Theory 3
Actovism
- Cooperate with NGO-s
- Participate in social movements for minoriry rights
- “ Food not bombs” - serving
free vegetarian food to
homlesses on weekly basis

5. The problem- local level
2009
Visiting Nagykanizsa
(city) with a group called
“People of the streets”
(activists)
„Citromsziget = Lemon
island” (big social housing
unit)

6. The problem- local level 2
Multi faced problem:
- 30-40 families in a big
unit
- House in bad condition
- Negative perception
- Unemployment of
tenants
- Arrears (non-paid bills)

7. The problem- national level
- Big factories close in industrial towns
- Unemployment increases (11% registered)
- Social benefit for active aged people decreases:
22.800 HUF/ month = Euro 76
- Unemployment benefit- just for 3 months after 10
months working

8. The problem- national level 2
- Poor people live in social housing
- More flats needed than habitable and rentable,
many sosial housing are empty, unhabitable
- Flats without comfort, or not energy- efficient so
heeting and electricity costs a lot

9. „Ligetváros” =
“Grove-city”
- Slum of 110 council flats
- Buildings built for military hospital barracks
- Later minimal reconstructions
- Sewer and plumbing system built at the time
of the political system change /1989)

10. Concept
Complex problem
-Unemployed and indepted local people
- Derelict buildings
- Segregated, slumified area
- Apathy

11. -Provide an opportunity for
disadvantaged families living in social
housing units and struggling with rent
arrears to do something for themselves
and for their surroundings
- We carry out renovations involving
tenants of these units and the
municipality reduces the participants
rent arrears by the increase in value of
the renovated houses
Solution
?

12. Achieve the first reconstruction
camp
- Start: 4-5 members of College for Advanced Studies
in Social Theory
- Develop the concept to a working plan
- Apply for grants – Norvegian Civil Fund
- Invite professional cooparating partners:
• - Habitat for Humanity Hungary
• - College for Advanced Studies in Architects
- Organise and coordinate volunteers and tenants
- Knocking on 200 doors

14. Implementation
- Challenge to win the local municipality and convince
them that the maintenance of their property is
economic and It will increase in value
- From HFH We had a construction supervisor so We
could reach the expected quality of reconstruction with
unskilled locals and volunteers

15. Partners and organizing of the
reconstruction
- Found raising and sponsorship : Austhrotherm (cheaper
heat insulation), DeWalt, Black and Decker, Makita, OBI,
knauf (old/ unused or cheaper tools and machines)
- Plan the reconstruction process
- Get the building materials
- Double target groups: volunteers and locals together

17. Insulation and painting

19. Benefits
- Opening up
- Experiencing the power
of their community élmény
- Positive media
representation
- Empowerment
-Tenants:
- Had a chance for a strong positive self- presentation
- Could see the results of their work
- Renovated and made more sustainable part of their
surroundings

21. Statistics
2 section: April and August of 2010
Flats renovated: 18 and 9
People who decreased their depts: 38 and 27
Volunteers from college: 40 and 35
HFH volunteers 35 and 24 (from USA)
Decrease of depts alltogether: almost 3 million HUF = Euro
10 000

23. The IDA program
- We were cooperating
partner with
Autonomia Foundation
and Habitat For Humanity
- 3 villages of 25 of the
program
• 6 families participated
• - Focus: self- care
Savings – Supports - Credit

24. The reconstructions in “Valleys”
• Civil volunteers and
volunteers from
coorporation E-on
(energy supplier)
• Different kind of
reconstructions 
painting, repair of
windows and roof and
walls, …

25. Camp for children- side project
• Programs for a
week for localchildren
• Creative games
• Community- building
games
• “Festival” with local
musicians and with
jugglers, fire jugglers

26. -Reconstruction of 1 9- flats building,
roofinsulation
-Renovation of windows and doors
- Foundraiser campaign to get more money for roof
insulation and decrease heating cost for more people
Ligetváros
2012

27. -1 m2: Euro 2
-Results: 90 people donated
- 675 000 HUF = Euro 2250
- 33 families could get insulation and will have lower
pricesof bills
“Donate 1 m2
insulation”

30. Budapest- 2013
- Cooperation with “The city is for everyone”
- Working with volunteers for 4 homeless
people living in forest move to social housing
- Model program for municipalities

32. Sustainability
1. Economic
- Moving from rent arrears toward
increase in value of houses
- Improving the condition of
socialhousing units
- Obligation of maintenance
2. Environmental
- Energy efficiency

33. Sustainability 2
1. Organisational
- Realising side projects
- Spreading the idea of
social housing
reconstruction camp
and tenant involvment

34. Thanks for the attention
sz.epitotabor@gmail.com
http://www.szepitotabor.hu/english-2/
brochure-2012/