Various programs have been launched during the last two years of government measures aimed at building an economy based on work and reducing poverty.
Breaking out of poverty is only possible through work and learning, that is why the government is investing 132 billion HUF to implement the public work program for those who are unable to find a job or have been out of work for a longer period. The government has set aside more than 222 billion HUF for the purposes of subsidizing lowest income groups of people and is also subsidizing primarily the families with children with more than 980 billion HUF in order to impede their impoverishment.
In 2011, the government launched the „Farm Development Program” in order to restore roads, facilitate the transport of farm commodities to the market, increase livestock numbers and develop or modernize farms. Several programs contribute to the inclusion of children living in disadvantaged circumstances including the „Special School” (Tanoda) program and the „Second Chance” (Második esély) program, within the framework of the New Széchenyi Plan. Regarding these programs, 11.5 billion HUF is available for the support of children living in disadvantaged circumstances. A further 80 billion HUF is provided by the „Útravaló” scholarship program, dedicated to supporting students in higher education.
In addition, those most in need are supported through various government schemes by more than 700 billion HUF each year. Disadvantaged local inhabitants may claim firewood at a very low price from the local government. The government has overhauled the system of gas and district heating and support may be claimed for various heating systems including oil and electricity.
In supporting street services for homeless people, the government has spent more than 8.2 billion HUF to supply homeless people. This has been realized on various levels by providing governmental support for homeless shelters, temporary shelters, and rehabilitation institutions.
The government launched a home protection action plan to prevent thousands of families from becoming homeless through various measures including fixing exchange rates, subsidizing interest payments and the establishment of the National Asset Management Office.
We could also mention the fact that more than a hundred thousand people benefited from social holidays due to the Erzsébet program, around two hundred thousand children participated in the „School Milk” (Iskolatej) program, and almost two thousand schools have been included in the „Fruit program”.
(Prime Minister’s Office)