Debrecen4U July 31, 2025

Debrecen does not abandon those in need – thousands receive hot meals every day

Debrecen remains steadfast in its commitment to supporting residents.

Every day, thousands of people in the city receive hot meals through homeless services, public kitchens, social meal programs, and child nutrition initiatives—thanks to funding from the local government, national programs, and the European Union. The city’s mission is clear: no one should be left without care.

The press conference focused on the Rehabilitation Farm in Ondód, run by ReFoMix Nonprofit Public Benefit Ltd., which currently serves 26 homeless people. The city’s leaders and homeless care professionals were on hand to report on the results that have made Debrecen one of the most developed cities in the country, with a social safety net.

Zsolt Szemerédy, managing director of ReFoMix, stated that Debrecen’s homeless care system has a 35-year history, and the Rehabilitation Farm has been in operation for 25 years. “Our goal was never to create mass shelters, but to offer human-centered, nature-connected care. Here, people have the chance to rediscover a healthier, more meaningful life,” he pointed out.

Attila Miklósi, head of the Rehabilitation Farm, emphasized that from Monday to Friday, they provide daily hot meals through the Human Resources Development Operational Program Plus. ReFoMix is a beneficiary of this EU-funded project, which provides real, tangible support to those it serves.

Deputy Mayor Diána Széles highlighted the city’s compassionate approach: “Debrecen is a caring city, and our goal is to ensure that every person in need receives a hot meal each day.” She explained that through EU funding and the cooperation of the National Foundation for the Homeless, hot meals are provided on weekdays at 98 locations nationwide—including Debrecen. She pointed out that they know how vital hot meals are to the health of homeless individuals. Here at the Ondód farm, they see daily improvements in the condition of those who come to them—and that opens the door to reintegrating them into the workforce. She also noted that the city’s care system rests on multiple pillars, with support coming from the government, the EU, and the municipality.

Importantly, the deputy mayor pointed out that it’s not only homeless individuals who benefit. Through the public kitchen service, 7,500 people in need receive hot meals daily at 46 locations across Debrecen. Additionally, the city operates a subsidized social meal program, offering two-course lunches to more than 2,000 residents at an affordable price.

Children are not forgotten either. The municipality allocates HUF 3.2 billion to ensure child nutrition, even during the summer holidays, providing support to the most disadvantaged families.

Local representative Erzsébet Katona praised the Ondód initiative as a model worth emulating. She pointed out that behind every case of homelessness lies a human story. “It’s important not to judge, but to approach our fellow human beings with empathy and trust—because there is always a way to help,” she said.

Source and photo credit: debrecen.hu