Does social housing actually work? Setting the record straight on the Vienna Model

Over the past few years, Vienna’s social housing model– where about 60% of residents live in municipally owned or supported apartments at subsidized rents–has been portrayed as a success of socialism over market forces in numerous news stories. For example, the New York Times recently called Vienna a “renters’ utopia”; the Financial Times “a success story 100 years in the making”; and NPR in 2020 reported “how European-style public housing could help solve the affordability crisis.”

Even policymakers have taken notice of Vienna’s reputed success. A US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) journal article describes Vienna’s social housing system “as an effective and innovative model for providing superior, affordable housing to the city’s residents,” and in Hawaii, local politicians have touted the social housing model.

Also Read: Financing Options for Green and Affordable Housing (GAH)