Budapest Converts School to Social Housing

A former school building in Budapest is undergoing a remarkable transformation into the city's first new social housing in a quarter of a century. This significant €6.2 million project, 80% funded by the European Union, is set to welcome its first residents early next year. The initiative directly addresses Budapest's escalating housing crisis, characterized by sharp increases in property prices.

Balázs Humayer, lead of the Affordable Housing for All (AHA) project, highlighted innovative advantages, such as utilizing wider classroom corridors to expand living spaces. The AHA program, co-funded by the European Urban Initiative, systematically assesses vacant buildings for their potential conversion into housing, considering technical, financial, and social factors.

The project also pioneers sustainable and socially viable housing models, with a pilot called Demo Hub showcasing affordable solutions. Tenant selection will consider various needs, including family size and accessibility, alongside supporting groups like single-parent families and young people exiting state care. Mayor Gergely Karácsony emphasized this collaborative effort as a demonstration of how public and professional organizations can tackle housing shortages by repurposing underutilized structures.