“We intend to establish security, legitimacy and appropriate circumstances both for capital city residents and for homeless people” - emphasized Sándor Pintér, the Minister of Interior after visiting homeless shelters at the Aszódi street and at the Feszty Árpád street in Budapet.

Pintér Sándor has recalled: government has engaged to ensure public order and it will keep its promise. “We must be ready to meet the expectations of our citizens.”

Minister of Interior said: newly built homeless shelters have to enhance security and legality.

“In joint action with the capital city we strive to strengthen the laws and to find solution to the problem of homelessness” – highlighted Sándor Pintér and added: renovation and building of homeless shelters will be realized in the framework of public employment.

The Lord Major of Budapest, István Tarlós said: During the 2006 – 2010 period 131 people froze to death in the streets of Budapest. “We seek to avoid it in the future” – stressed István Tarlós.

Homeless shelters in Aszódi street and Feszty street provide appropriate conditions for 450 persons – informed the Lord Major. “According to available resources we would like to achieve the best solution.”

Issue of homelessness can only be solved by responsible joint action - emphasised Imre Kozma, President of the Hungarian Maltese Charity Service, maintainer of the homeless shelter in the Feszty Árpád street.

In the framework of the “Heated Street” programme government targeted to establish daily public room facility and night shelters for homeless people living in public places. Renovation of the buildings started in the end of October.

The building in the Aszódi street needs to be completely renovated. The reconstructed part of the house in the Feszty Árpád street provides night shelter facility for 24 persons and daily public room for 50 persons. As part of the implementation of the programme Hungarian State and the Capital Local Government have ensured a total of EUR 1,9 million to renovate buildings, Hungarian Government has increased the Investment Facility of the capital used for homeless people to EUR 1,1 million additionally. Government used an amount of EUR 16 million in 2011 to finance night and day shelters.

(kormany.hu)