Budapest Mayor Tarlós Explains Action On Homeless

  • 15 Dec 2010 2:00 AM
Budapest Mayor Tarlós Explains Action On Homeless
"Budapest officials want to address those who have fallen out of the social safety net and integrate them into society, but will not allow them to live their lives in underpasses and train stations, mayor István Tarlós told reporters on Tuesday.

Declaring that people will have to get accustomed to a new outlook in Budapest, even if “the fashion was different” earlier, he said the interests of 1.8 million citizens of Budapest have to be considered.

Social workers have noted the names of 116 people who sleep in underpasses and have began to find accommodation for them in recent weeks, he said.

Of these, 30 refused to accept any support and left for unidentified destinations, nine have visited services for the homeless, 51 have been put up at some accommodation and places are being sought for 26 others.

Tarlós said the city has received Ft 80 million from the state for accommodation for the homeless.

Tolerance centres have been established for homeless persons in a disused waiting room at Nyugati train station and in one of the underpasses of Déli station.

However, homeless people living in Pest will stage a protest in the Blaha Lujza tér underpass at 6 p.m., this evening, Népszava reports, as Tarlós has deemed those who sleep in underpasses to be outlaws."

Source: Hungary Around the Clock.

This news item is one of many published daily by HATC, a premier subscription news service which distributes English-language info about Hungary via email or fax. For a free trial of HATC follow this link and click on 'Free Trial Subscription'.

  • How does this content make you feel?