Shared Public Spaces, Shared Responsibility

In summer 2026, an exceptional heatwave once again highlighted the situation of people living in public spaces in Budapest. The extreme temperatures triggered a humanitarian crisis and exposed social tensions more clearly than ever. More people experiencing homelessness were present in public areas, while substance use, untreated mental health conditions and the widespread collection of recyclable bottles further heightened tensions among local residents. Public discourse often relies on oversimplified stereotypes, while opportunities for residents to express their views through structured channels remain limited. The first-hand experiences of people living on the streets and social professionals rarely inform decision-making, and regular cooperation between civil society, professional and municipal stakeholders is lacking.

The project comprises four interconnected activities to promote open public dialogue. First, a preparatory workshop and professional consultations will support the collection of first-hand field knowledge, while the experiences of people living on the streets will be recorded anonymously during outreach services. In parallel, a multi-month public communication campaign will use short videos, posts, infographics and newsletters to bring nuance to public discourse on sharing public spaces. Residents and volunteers will be involved through an online questionnaire and three moderated group discussions. Finally, a professional forum and roundtable will bring together social sector, civil society and local authority representatives to develop and present policy recommendations to decision-makers.

The primary outcome of the project is the development of a policy recommendation package based on residential, professional, and stakeholder experiences, which will be delivered to the relevant decision-makers and social institutions. This initiative aims to make the public discourse surrounding public coexistence more nuanced and evidence-based, while simultaneously enhancing civic participation and social trust. Furthermore, it establishes a novel collaboration between civil society, professionals, and local governments. The project's results deliver both direct and indirect benefits to a broad target audience. It provides Budapest residents and volunteers with a meaningful opportunity for community reflection and a channel through which to voice their opinions. Meanwhile, social workers in homeless care, non-governmental organisations, and specialists and decision-makers from both metropolitan and district municipalities gain access to structured professional dialogue and well-founded proposals. Crucially, channeling the lived experiences of homeless people brings genuine value to them as well, fostering more human-centric and effective measures in the longer term, alongside a more liveable, safer, and inclusive urban environment.