Austria – National Report 2008 People who are homeless can be housed
Introduction:
This report tries to collect the necessary information from Austrian members that are working in the area of homelessness and shelter or housing. To produce it BAWO the Austrian umbrella organization for organizations working with the homeless has sent the questionnaire to member organizations in all Austrian regions (“Länder”). In addition we have interviewed several experts in the field of housing from ministries, local authorities and municipalities.
Percentage social housing of total housing stock:
Social housing is defined as dwellings in buildings owned by local authorities or by non-profit building associations. In 2001 one fifth of all dwellings in Austria (19,9%) were considered social housing owned by state, Land, Commune or non-profit building association. This proportion has slightly decreased from 21,1% in 1991 to 19,9% of all stock in 2001.
Percentage rental housing of total stock:
In 2001 38,8% of all dwellings (1.496.463) were rental housing subject to the rental act or rental housing subject to the non profit act. Half of the total housing stock in Austria (50,1%) is owner used (dwellings in detached houses or in residential buildings with 2 or more dwellings).
Percentage of overcrowded housing:
Over crowdedness defines as two or more persons living in one room. This criterion applies to many households in Austria und is a sign for hidden homelessness. In 2001 over 88.000 Austrians lived under such conditions. This approximates 1 percent of all inhabitants of Austria. The following chart derives from the census 2001 and relates to dwellings with one or two rooms (with more than 4 sq.m. and a kitchen included).
Housing affordability rate:
1,3 million persons live in households with a share of housing costs higher than 25 %. This 1,3 millions were 17% of population in private house holds.
The arithmetic average of equivalized housing costs in 2006 was 2.775 EUR per year. For all households the share of housing costs was 17% of the equivalized household income. In 2006 12% of the population felt their cost of housing being a high financial burden.
Public housing policies:
The main objectives of public housing policies in Austria today are:
• decent housing provision for the majority of the population
• Balanced provision of rent/ owner occupation
• right to buy according to consumer’s choice
• reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in the housing sector
As housing policy in Austria has a unitary approach, the majority of the population is targeted by the housing policy measures. The share of the public effort in favor of housing is 1.1 percent of the gross domestic product (2007). The financial relation between the Federal State and the Länder is established with the “revenue equalization”, which is a major political instrument in a federal State.
Access to the private market:
In Austria high access costs for new housing in the private market often are responsible, that people with low income, who are socially excluded are not able to afford adequate housing. In order to get a lease contract at all, a person has to pay up to 6 monthly rents caution money (security deposit) and 3 monthly rents brokerage. There is a tax to be paid just for the fact that the lease contract is signed. This means, that people with low income sometimes have to finance nearly 10 month’s rent before they even enter their new dwelling.
Permanent hostels for senior homeless in Vienna:
A few years ago the City of Vienna has started a new program together with NGOs working in the field. This program offers housing for people who are not able to live independently anymore. This form of permanent housing has developed to an important integration component for homeless in Vienna that cannot be replaced anymore. One aspect of this concept is to secure dignity for people with an advanced age together with adequate housing.
Conclusion:
Thus the “right to housing” actually is part of the political discussion concerning the implementation of “social rights” into the Austrian constitution. BAWO Austria strongly recommends recognition of “the right to housing” by the Austrian constitution. Therefore it also has been one of the main topics on the annual conferences of BAWO in the last two years. In 2007 the Minister of Social Affairs, Erwin Buchinger, in his opening speech strongly approved an incorporation of the right to housing in the Austrian constitution.
Also Read: Housing Australia Investment Mandate Direction 2018