Problems have been known for a long time – little has happened since then
Vienna (OTS) – Last year, the Vienna People’s Party pointed out the grievances that homeless people face on the streets of Vienna. The Vienna People’s Party also presented proposals for solutions. Little has happened since then. “At that time, it was more important for people to downplay the problem and laugh at critics than to solve the problem. To date, the situation has not improved for anyone,” said the state party chairman of the Vienna People’s Party, City Councilor Karl Mahrer, about the current situation in Vienna. And further: “People are simply left to their own devices, also in view of the current heat waves.”
In any case, simply offering sleeping accommodation in emergency accommodation is not enough, as it does not solve the problem and does not create any real prospects: “The goal must always be to get people out of homelessness,” Mahrer continued.
Twtl. Homeless people from other EU countries – urgent need for your own safety net – perspectives and possible return trips to your home country as a central question
A non-negligible proportion of the homeless in Vienna come from other EU countries and only camp in Vienna. There are therefore no offers of housing or social benefits for EU citizens in Vienna as there are for Austrians, since people are allowed to be in Vienna due to freedom of travel, but are not allowed to take advantage of Austrian social security. Mahrer says: “We need our own safety net with social workers who proactively address affected EU foreigners, create perspectives and ultimately deal with the question of a possible return trip to the home country of those affected.”
The Vienna People’s Party’s proposed solutions
- Year-round accommodation based on homeless people living in public spaces.
- General examination of the number of suitable accommodation places.
- Daily monitoring of the homeless situation in public spaces.
- Increasing the number of employees in social work.
- Increased networking with other organizations, such as Caritas or the relief organization.
- Increased visibility of social workers in public spaces.
- Improving health care for homeless people without health insurance.
- More active offering of accommodation and other offers.
- The establishment of a social worker helpline that those affected can contact around the clock.
- Willingness to talk to the Vienna city government
“I invite Mr. City Councilor Hacker to discuss these problems and our proposed solutions with us. In the interests of the Viennese and, above all, the homeless people themselves,” concluded Mahrer.
Questions & Contact:
The Vienna People’s Party
Press & Communication
01/515 43 230
presse@wien.oevp.at
https://wien.oevp.at