Ninth Opportunity House in Vienna has been open since May 22nd, so there are currently over 680 places available all year round through Opportunity Houses in Vienna.
Vienna (OTS) – The newly opened Opportunity House Rossauer Lände is an institution run by Diakonie Eine Welt Lebensräume gem. GmbH, supported by the Vienna Social Fund (FSW). It offers acutely homeless people low-threshold access to housing, social work support and clarification of perspectives from day one. Especially at the Opportunities House Rossauer Lände: There are barrier-free places and, in addition to a separate women’s and men’s area, there is also a separate area for trans*, inter* and non-binary people.
“The concept of the Vienna Opportunity Houses for people without housing or shelter is unique. With the establishment of the Opportunity Houses in Vienna’s homeless assistance program, something has been achieved that shows that housing or homelessness is not the end of the line. Anyone who uses an Opportunity House receives social work support and is shown sustainable prospects from day one.”
knows Social City Councilor Peter Hacker.
Alexandra Gröller, managing director of Diakonie Eine Welt Lebensräume, also emphasizes the importance of opportunity houses on the occasion of the opening: „We are very pleased to now be able to offer a low-threshold offer in addition to our many other homeless assistance facilities with our barrier-free opportunity house! It is particularly important to us to be there for people who are disadvantaged and excluded. People with limited mobility and people with non-binary gender identities will find housing units tailored to their needs that are easily accessible and particularly protected.“
Opportunities House Rossauer Lände: Space for 70 homeless people
“Opportunity houses are an essential part of the year-round regular offering of the Vienna Homeless Help Center. In addition to offers based on the Housing First approach, places in opportunity houses are a form of accommodation that sustainably counteracts the consolidation of homelessness. The Viennese Opportunity Houses are characterized by the possible length of stay in the Opportunity Houses for up to six months and the perspective work from the first day of the stay. Thanks to good cooperation at the district level and with Diakonie, the FSW was able to open a modern, new opportunity center at the Rossauer Lände location.”
explains Markus Hollendohner, head of the Viennese homeless assistance department at the FSW.
Offer and current occupancy at the Opportunities House Rossauer Lände:
The Chance House Rossauer Lände is an emergency shelter on six levels that offers space for 70 adult residents. The accommodation has 30 single rooms and 20 double rooms, including barrier-free spaces. There are special areas for couples, women and TIN people (trans/inter/non-binary), and clients with pets are also welcome. The house offers a leisure room and lounges with a kitchen. “We are very happy that our concept met with approval and that we can finally open after extensive renovation work.”
says Wolfgang Ernst, rector of Diakonie Eine Welt.
Support is provided by 30 employees around the clock, seven days a week. The Opportunities House Rossauer Lände offers a wide range of support services, including comprehensive support, social work, health advice and liaison services. Currently (as of July 5th), 66 of the 70 available places in the Opportunities House Rossauer Lände, which has been open since May 22nd, are already occupied for a maximum stay of six months.
Location with social history
The district head of the Alsergrund human rights district in Vienna, Saya Ahmad, commented on the opening of the new opportunity house: “Solidarity is a lived practice on Alsergrund. The newly opened Opportunities House Rossauer Lände run by Diakonie and FSW is an important step towards supporting people in emergency situations and being able to offer them care and help. Because homelessness is a sad reality in the big city. It “It is crucial that we as a city and district deal with this situation realistically and ensure that no one has to live on the streets and everyone receives the support they need.”
The house itself, owned by the Evangelical Work for Diakonie and Education (EWDB), has an eventful history: it was a Protestant hospital for a long time, then a facility run by the Diakonie refugee service and is now an opportunity house according to modern standards. This adaptability underlines Diakonie’s commitment to adapting to people’s needs and supporting them in their time of need.
About Vienna Homeless Aid Opportunity Houses
The service of the Opportunity Houses was developed as part of the strategic realignment of Vienna’s homeless assistance system. The first opportunity houses opened in 2018. They offer open, low-threshold access for all homeless or homeless people. They offer emergency accommodation in single or double rooms, day stays and advice. The clarification of housing prospects is carried out by a multi-professional care team from the first day in the facility. Open access also enables people without social rights to receive short-term accommodation, advice and, if necessary, support when returning to their country of origin. This will prevent homelessness from becoming more widespread.
Service
Printable photos will be available for download shortly www.wien.gv.at/presse/bilder available.
Questions & Contact:
Julia Riedler
Press spokesperson for the Vienna Social Fund
Email: press@fsw.at
Tel.: +43 676 828920924
Karin Brandstötter
Communication Diakonie One World
E-Mail: karin.brandstoetter@diakonie.at
Tel: +43 1 402 67 54 – 1104
Mobil: +43 664 827 34 83