Homelessness In Austria (by Vera Bichler and David Walch)
Homeless Organisations - "Caritas" (by Gabriele Falböck, Markus Frey and Matthias Steinperl)
Austrian Streetpapers - The Most Famous One: "Augustin" (by Monika Prelec and Maria Zimmermann)
The first studies which tried to describe the reasons for homelessness not only by transforming old prejudices against homeless to empirical facts, and trying to see the problem as a consequence of World War II which was supposed to solve itself after a few years but by finding some common explanations why people become homeless were made in the seventies.
Abels and Keller were the first who saw homelessness not only as a psychological anomaly but as a ..."consequence of a process of deterioration of social rank."
From that point of view such factors as the situations on the labour- and housing market as well as individual-personal characterstructures have some influence on homelessness.
The first social scientist in Austria who became interested in describing homelessness from a scientific point of view was the sociologist Roland Girtler.
He draws the picture that homeless and beggars just want to live a free life, without being chained by society. For our research this scientific point of view is not useful because it supports as we think, prevalent prejudices in society, which makes it very hard for homeless people to get back into "normal" society and it is just not in accordance with reality, most of the homeless do NOT choose this way freely, but are forced to give up their homes because of being in default with their rents.
In the year of 1987 a group of scientists made first suggestions how to ban homelessness. Now - ten years later - only one point has been put into reality, the others such as creating a federal law for all of Austria or increasing the job market policies to avoid evictions are still undone.
In the year of 1992 an organisation was founded in Vienna which co-ordinates all organisations which support the homeless, with the aim to buy approximately 3000 apartments, renovate them and then use them as "protected" apartments where homeless can try to manage their lives themselves again.
The homeless who get such apartments must have the will for being reintegrated and are looked after by social workers.
This co-operation between different organisations (private as well as official) improved the situation of homeless though there are still many things to do.
Our research concentrated on the situation of the homeless in Vienna, there exist no studies representative for all of Austria, not because science in Austria wasn't interested in this case as we have shown before, but because the legal situation for how to deal with homelessness varies from province to province in Austria.
The number of homeless who live in the streets in Vienna is estimated at 4700 - 4800, which is a relatively small number compared to the number of inhabitants.
Nevertheless the problem is bigger than it seems in Vienna. Many people who still have their own homes and jobs live on the verge of poverty and can hardly afford paying their rents.
Compared to other countries Austria has high social welfare standards, but even that cannot prevent the fact, that especially young, unskilled people have been confronted with increasing unemployment rates and high rents for apartments during the last decade, and therefore are more and more endangered to become homeless.
As scientists found out in a study made in 1992 about homelessness in Vienna,
unemployment or the loss of a job is the main reason for homelessness. As we said before, many of the people who lose their homes live at the verge of poverty when they are still employed, or have to accept being transferred to less well paid jobs.
Besides that many of the now homeless have only a low level of education, compared to the average inhabitant of Vienna, so that they get only badly paid jobs after finishing school and never have a chance to save money. When they are unemployed they get into arrears with their rents and cannot prevent an eviction.
(It only takes about four months until the district courts initiate an action for eviction.)
Another interesting fact is the difference concerning the reasons for homelessness between women and men. As said before unemployment is the main reason, but many women, who are now homeless did not know when they got divorced that they are undertaken to pay mortgages accumulated by their former husbands.
In case of financial problems even before the divorce the situation usually gets unmasterable with further debts.
Addiction to alcohol or drugs - often seen as reasons for homelessness by society - are from what we have found out, not decisive factors. But many homeless see it as an additional problem in their situation that makes it harder to be reintegrated.
There do not exist any federal regulations concerning financial aid for homeless people in Austria. Every province has its own standards on how to deal with homelessness.
Therefore the results presented are representative for the city of Vienna only. The underlying statutes are the Social Benefits Act of 1920 and some sections of the federal constitutional law. The Social Benefits Act is to be seen as a "second network" which becomes effective when neither social security nor the health insurance can help.
Even the local authority of Vienna tried to ignore the problem of homelessness for a long time and left it to private organisations to deal with homeless people.
Only in 1982 an official advisory centre was established where homeless get detailed information how to get back into a normal life.
The local authority has by now created about 1700 places to sleep for homeless, private organisations about 650, but all "protected" apartments are financed by private organisations such as the Caritas.
It would be easier for all organisations if there were a federal law concerning the homeless, but the government refuses even to discuss this fact at times of other budgetary problems.
The effects of that are felt mostly by the poorest such as the homeless. As we have found out the homeless cannot be compared with minorities such as homosexuals or religious minorities in Austria.
These minorities have the aim to draw society's attention to their needs and push ahead public relations work. The homeless just want to get their own residences again and refuse to discuss their situation in public.
Most of the homeless do not identify themselves with the minority they belong to.
Even the media sometimes contribute to old prejudices by depicting the situation of homeless as their own fault and homelessness as a lifestyle chosen freely.
In our opinion the most important thing that should be done to improve the situation of the homeless in Vienna is to initiate a publicity campaign so that society is made aware of this problem and a serious discussion can be started.
The biggest upholder of social institutions beside the private ones in Austria, is the CARITAS. This church organisation has installed a network of institutions all over the country. We would like to present a list of homes and other institutions for homeless people, among them especially the "Vinzenzhaus" and the "Bahnhofssozialdienst" (station's social service).
The CARITAS-organisation, that is financed by donations, the church and the community, provides help in all phases of homelessness. The first contact after having become homeless is the station's social service (Bahnhofssozialdienst) at the west-station of Vienna (this institution and the Vinzenzhaus will be presented particulary furtheron). Next, there are homes for all kinds of people in need:
-one home for women without children in Schopenhauerstraße (18th district), with a capacity of 35 longer term beds and some short-term beds (for one night in case of emergency).
-one home for younger people under the age of 30 in Blindengasse (8th district), which also provides help for drug-addicted people. This home also carries on the so-called Canisibus, that brings soup to the homeless people in the streets.
-in Kirchstettnergasse there is the Rupert-Meyer-Haus, a home for men older than 30, also those who suffer from alcoholism. It is equipped with 40 longer term beds and 12 beds for people who need care because of illness etc.
-in Lacknergasse there is a home for about 150 persons, where the homeless are able to stay just for the day. This home carries on the "Luisibus", that brings medical help to the homeless people in the streets.
-one home for women with children (mother-child-house), where immigrants can find help, too.
-one home for both men and women, called "crypt" (Gruft). This home provides bed, hygienic care and meal. The name comes from the place where it is settled: below a church in the 7th district.
Besides, the CARITAS has established on amount of information services, working projects (such as a pub where homeless is given possibility to work as waiters) and a department that manages residences for people who have left a home and are now looking for an apartment. Frequently people who are in charge to look after the former homeless living in this apartment are visiting them.
VINZENZHAUS
The "Vinzenzhaus" is an transitional institution, which includes three different forms of care: - the low-based help for urgent cases of homeless, - the longer term care and - the care after leaving the Vinzenzhaus. It's a home for men older than 30 years.
1.: low-based help: Every day from 5 p. m. to 10 p. m. nearly 40 homeless come to spend some time in a recreation room. Homeless can get there provided meal, clothes (if needed) and medical care. There is also a television set and the social workers have always some good advices for their protégés. 12 beds are prepared to give the homeless a home for a few nights by way of exception. People, who stay over night may come at 5 p. m. and have to leave in the morning. It's not allowed to stay the whole day. In cooperation with the "Bahnhofssozialdienst" the social workers of the Vinzenzhaus search for a longer term accomodation.
2.: longer-term care: 35 homeless men (citizens of the EU) also those who suffer from alcoholism are allowed to use this possibility. Readiness to cooperate and motivation to stop the addiction - these are the requirements to meet. The home provides help after a withdraw cure from alcohol. The mixture of 50 percent alcoholics and 50 percent non-alcoholics has been very successful during the last years. Most important aim is to form a consciousness of the individual problems and also to find a solution. This should be reached with single-cares and psychological therapy. Here a few points of the pedagogical contents: -longer term diagnosis, -medical check up, -job perspectives for the future, -regulate the debts, -make a financial plan and safe money, -help at juristical problems, -aid in personal crises, -animation and how to use spare time meaningful, -all about clothes, behaviour, hygiene, -confrontation with tendences of addiction, which restrict their life.
As said half of the inhabitants suffer from alcohol. This people need a few structures and principles, which are given in Vinzenzhaus: - nonalcoholic athmosphere (strict ban on alcohol in the house - neither possession nor consumption), - daily control with an breathalyzer (alcohol limit for all inhabitants of 0,8, for patients of the therapy of 0,0), -cooperation with the institutions of therapy, -aid in personal crises, -permanent education of the social workers concerning matters of addiction, - athmosphere, which motivates to teetotal, -seminars concerning alcoholism, -preparation for difficult situations, which were managed with alcohol in further times.
There are also a few things in Vinzenzhaus, which empower responsibility, ability to communicate and community-feeling. For example -housework, -seminars of alcoholism, -prepare celebrations together, -play-evenings, -to do some sport activities together,... The most important field is housework. On one hand the homeless should leave the house in good and clean conditions, on the other hand it is a good practise for further employment. In addition to it is a possibility to earn money to regulate the debts and a support for inhabitants, which leave the house and live in a so-called "Prekariumswohnung".
3.: care after leaving the Vinzenzhaus: The period of stay in Vinzenzhaus is limited - terms depend on the individual cases. There are three possibilities for patients to get an apartment:
- transitional flat of CARITAS (so-called "Prekariumswohnung" - includes care),
- share a flat of "Volkshilfe" (includes also care),
- apartment of the local government (no care).
The care in the "Prekariumswohnung" includes regular visits, which are used to control the fixed aims. People get help in cases of personal crises. After one year in a "Prekariumswohnung" without problems, CARITAS intervenes for an apartment of the local government.
The "BAHNHOFSSOZIALDIENST"
A crucial service-institution of the CARITAS in Vienna is located next to the west-station, which is one of the biggest stations of Vienna. That's why this institution is called "Bahnhofssozialdienst" ("Bahnhof" means railway station). In contrast to other institutions, which provide long-term care for homeless people, the "Bahnhofsozialdienst" tries to help people in an acute emergency situation, for example people who have lost their habitation and don't know what to do now. People who are in the situation of acute emergency can get the most necessary goods there (food, a place to pass the night), they can get information about other institutions, which may be able to help them or they can be led to other social institutions. One can say that the "Bahnhofssozialdienst" is a kind of a "social fire-engine" or a "social ambulance" (both terms are mentioned in leaflets of this institution).
As there isn't very effective public information about the "Bahnhofssozialdienst", many people, who are finding themselves standing on the street with no idea where they should go, are advised to go to this institution by other homeless people or by the police.
The "Bahnhofssozialdienst" is opened 24 hours a day and is trying to provide quick and unbureaucratic help for all people in acute emergency. Its employees talk to the people coming in, listen to their problems and are trying to find the best solution to them, e. g. what is the best place for them to go next or which social institution would be the most helpful in a certain situation. The "Bahnhofssozialdienst" can also be helpful if homeless people have problems with offices, it can intervene at offices or "translate" the problems of these people into the language of offices.
Most of the people that come to the "Bahnhofssozialdienst" are aged between 20 and 30 years (35%), followed by people between 30 and 40 years (27%). 10% of the clients are older than 50, 6% are younger than 20 years. There is a tendency that more and more younger people need the help of this institution. 79% of the clients are Austrians, 21% are foreigners. 81 from hundred clients are men, 19% are women, this proportion (4:1) has been constant for many years.
The team of employees of the "Bahnhofssozialdienst" consists of one female lawyer and eight social workers, who are supported by some voluntary helpers. Their job isn't easy: they have to decide very quickly what is the best opportunity for certain people and they are often confronted with people almost unable to articulate their problems or with drunk people in an aggressive mood. Patience, trust, reliability but also humour are the most important qualities for their job.
The "Augustin" is a newspaper created by a group of social workers as a new project in spring 1994. The idea is based on the idea that homeless people should have the possibiltiy to write about their problems in society. The main work of the homeless people is to write and sell the newspaper. Professional journalists lead the editorial office, help to find new topics and writing the articles.
The monthly selling number has increased rapidly: Nowadays about 20.000 numbers are being sold each month, in certain months like December (because of Christmas) even more than 25.000 newspapers can be sold.
The idea of making streetpapers does not come from Vienna or Austria, it actually comes from New York where the first streetpaper was found about fifteen years ago. The first streetpaper in Europe was the "Big Issue" in London, found in 1991. Little by little the idea was spread all over the european continent. In Germany, for instance, by now around thirty similar institutions exist in several cities.
The "Augustin" is one of the biggest papers in the german speaking countries made by homeless people. All these projects are usually organized in a similar way: Half of the price for the newspaper goes to the seller, the other half goes to the production of the next issue. For example the "Augustin" costs twenty Austrian shillings.
Organisation structure
The organisation is divided into three separate parts:
- the publishing house called "Sand & Zeit"
- the administration office
- and the editorial office
As mentioned above, the project and the publishing house "Sand und Zeit" belonging to it, was found by a small group of social workers.
To put the idea into action professional journalists were engaged. They helped to introduce the homless writers to an office called "Schreibwerkstatt" (translated:"writing work-shop"), which is now being coordinated by two journalists, Robert Sommer and Max Wachter.
They are proud of the independence of their newspaper. The production, the editorial office (that includes all the honorars), administration costs, rent and public relations are all financed by the profit of the selling and supported by private donations. Never public funds or funds from any church organisation are needed.
The organisation of the work aims at the independence of every single homeless. The idea is to motivate him. He can decide by himself how much, how often and where he wants to sell the newspaper. So "Augustin" is a very flexible employer. The only obligation is that the seller is not allowed to be drunk, as Max Wachter says.
Every homeless gets a chance to try out whether he likes this kind of work or not. He gets the first twenty issues for free. So he makes more profit of it. This "first aid" might be the reason why the "Augustin" is in contact with nearly thousand homeless people. Actually between 100 and 150 of them are continous sellers. The most important advantage is that the homeless does not feel like a beggar because he sells a product. This might support their self-confidence. The office serves as a kind of communication center where the homeless people can meet and talk about daily problems of street life.
The aim of the project
The real aim of the project is the integration of the homeless. But it is an insufficient definition if this concerns only the integration into the "real" labour market. It is more important for the homeless to learn to find their own way of living without needing any support. Some of the employees just found their way back from the street. Further the projects should give the homeless the possiblilty to express their problems. While selling a newspaper the homeless talks to people, so the unterstanding between "normal society" and the marginal group might grow. Society should learn to understand their problems. And Robert Sommer says the reactions are indeed mainly positive.
Streetpapers in other cities of Austria
Graz:
There exists a streetpaper called "Das Megaphon". They sell monthly more than 10.000 copies. The "Megaphon" was founded in 1995. They want to support marginal groups.
Linz:
1996 another Austrian streetpaper called "Kupfermuck'n" was found. Most of the money for this project is raised by official funds.
Innsbruck:
The streetpaper of Innsbruck is the youngest project in Austria. The concept is a little different from the others: the writers are mainly homeless drug adicts. The project is being led by Caritas, a catholic social institution.
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