Neunerhaus chief Hammer warns of further rising homelessness

The aid organization neunerhaus says it is facing growing complexity in the cases it handles. "The people who seek help would also have increasingly complex problem situations, which requires longer consultations," Hammer explained. Her basic attitude is clear: "Half helped is poorly helped. We cannot retreat in the quality of our work if we want to help sustainably and effectively." The pressure on counseling services is rising without funding growing at the same rate.

Climate developments are also worsening the situation. Heat waves like the one at the end of June posed a particular burden for people without housing, with chronic wounds and inflammations worsening, as Hammer elaborated. She therefore demands "as many cool zones as possible without any obligation to consume," since "people with a larger wallet can protect themselves better from the heat," for instance by visiting air-conditioned venues. "We see a climate change in social affairs, but hopefully not a climate crisis for a long time yet," Hammer summarizes the situation.

BAWO demands cross-departmental strategy

BAWO, the umbrella association of housing assistance, is demanding from the federal government a cross-departmental strategy to combat homelessness, "which also takes into account the situation of women, young adults and people with psychological problems." The responsible ministries in the federal government led by the Social Democrats are considered to be Housing (Andreas Babler) and Social Affairs (Korinna Schumann). Hammer sees a fundamental openness, but also shortcomings: "The willingness is there among everyone, but this issue needs to be prioritized more highly and the necessary resources need to be made available."

A central point of her criticism is the current debate about social assistance. Hammer speaks of an "endless campaign of dis-solidarity" and says: "I feel … this pure reporting around the topic of social assistance without a reform that is on the table is actually an endless campaign of dis-solidarity." She is "particularly the discussion about social assistance has shocked Hammer in recent months." At the same time, she observes growing reservations against people in need of help: "Resentments toward people who depend on help would grow stronger" and politics is making "populistic meters … on the backs of people who need help."

Debate about social assistance

Hammer therefore demands a "poverty-proof minimum income" as an "essential part" of the response. In addition, swift action must be taken to relieve low-income households: "Above all, urgent measures are needed so that housing costs for people with low incomes do not continue to rise." Because the factual situation is clear: "Housing costs are rising – especially in the lower rental segments – higher than incomes."

Hammer identifies a positive development in the new housing allocation in Vienna and the extension of the housing umbrella, which the provincial administrations also appreciated, as she emphasizes. The housing umbrella can, however, only be as effective as the general housing policy and income development allow. The Viennese allocation is nevertheless "a great success." She does, however, miss an analysis of "who is most affected by the savings made to balance the budget." "I believe that it is actually also democratically necessary to have more information on how the sum of the individual savings affects rich people, the middle class and people with low incomes," Hammer said.

Vienna housing umbrella as a positive example

Against this backdrop, Hammer expects a further rise in the numbers affected. "Against this background alone, we must expect that the number of people without housing or experiencing homelessness will continue to rise," she said. The aid organizations are simultaneously calling on the federal government and the states to increase their funding and to set up contact points against the heat in order to make the situation of homeless people more bearable in the coming summers.