Photography by Peter Roman

Originally mounted on the bathroom wall, the boiler fell off and hit Erzsike, causing a severe spinal injury, so she hadn't been able to move properly for years. It seemed better to remount the boiler elsewhere, like the kitchen.

Outside the sign names the fund financing renovation works of the facade, on the firewall the iron anchor plates stabilizing the doorway, in the background the collapsed section of the fence wall, on the right the so-called construction site.

Cracks are clearly visible above the arch of the entrance gate, running up to the window of Erzsike's living room.

The vaulted ceiling of the doorway: one can only guess how deep the cracks actually are. Erzsike's small room and the left side of her living room are directly above the doorway.

Erzsike is also worried about the condition of the floors, but even more so about the crack under the convector of the small room facing the courtyard: she fears her apartment could collapse any time.

"This house is held together by the Holy Spirit." The cracks in the partition wall between the small room and the living room are a good indication that the firewall holding the crucifix has sunk.

The living room: cracks are clearly visible above the left window. Erzsike didn't dare install curtains as she was afraid the cornices would fall off under the weight. Walking through the room, you can clearly feel that the floor is sloping to the left, which is the corner over the gate.

The living room window directly above the gate. Erzsike plastered the cracks with the help from her famliy because “the draft of cold air was unbearable”.

Even in winter, Erzsike cannot afford to have the heating permanently running: her pension is low, energy prices are high, heat retention of the apartment is bad due to the unheated firewall and doorway, and strong drafts of cold air are rising through the cracks. Erzsike’s dogs are warming up near the convector while it is turned on.

The “construction site” covered by weeds and garbage. Just as no progress is being made on Erzsike’s housing issue, the construction works have been in complete halt for the last few years.