The Advice Center for the Homeless of the Vienna Social Fund provided places in Vienna to over 3,500 homeless people in 2022
Vienna (OTS) – “Homelessness can affect anyone and everyone. In order to support people in such situations, low-threshold offers are needed. With the advice center for homeless people, the FSW has been creating an offering at eye level for 15 years and opening up new perspectives and opportunities for those affected – in the spirit of a socially just city. I would like to congratulate you very much on this anniversary.”
emphasizes Social City Councilor Peter Hacker at yesterday’s anniversary celebration.
Customers of the Advice center for homeless people – bzWO for short – has been receiving all information on all services provided by Vienna’s homeless assistance program in the Vienna Social Fund (FSW) for 15 years. The bzWO is a central contact and coordination point for homeless people and allocates housing and care capacities in over 60 facilities in Vienna. In 2008, the advice center for homeless people started operations as an extension of the FSW customer service.
“The FSW works with 33 partner organizations to help the homeless. Together we create offers for over 12,000 people – from day centers to mobile offers to living and sleeping places. Last year, the bzWO provided places for over 3,500 homeless people. Placement according to the Housing First approach is the top priority.”
says FSW managing director Susanne Winkler.
The employees of the bzWO inform customers about the services provided by the Vienna Homeless Aid (WWH), check applications and work with those affected to find the most suitable place to live with the aim of providing homeless or homeless people with assistance tailored to their needs.
Further development close to homeless customers
Martina Minichmayr, head of bzWO, who has been part of the team since it was founded in 2008, says of the development steps: “We have often adapted processes and quickly realized that in order to provide the best possible advice and information transfer to our homeless customers, have to be flexible. In 2011 we installed a journal service for acute cases. In 2019, we made mobile counseling possible for homeless people with mental or physical illnesses.” The FSW’s Vienna Homeless Help Center strategically relies on the Housing First approach when it comes to services, in which long-term accommodation in their own form of housing is central for those affected. The bzWO also advises its customers on this.
Strong network for Vienna
Due to its central location in the 8th district, the bzWO is easily accessible for homeless people for consultations and is ideally located for access to partner organization facilities. Homeless customers in the bzWO are currently placed in over 60 facilities run by over 30 partner organizations in Vienna. In 2022 alone, the multi-professional bzWO team of 27 employees processed over 3,900 applications from homeless customers.
Questions & Contact:
Julia Riedler
Press spokesperson for the Vienna Social Fund
Tel.: + 43 676 8289 20924
E-Mail: presse@fsw.at