Fonds Soziales Wien increases places in emergency shelters in summer
The winter package was coordinated by the Vienna Social Fund (FSW) and implemented with seven partner organizations. According to FSW, about 3,000 people used the offer between November 2024 and April 2025. The number of people served remained almost the same compared to the previous year. The 13 emergency shelters and three warming rooms were heavily utilized, but did not exceed capacity limits.
Emergency Shelters of the Vienna Social Fund Offer 278 Individual Places and 28 Family Places in Summer
According to the FSW release, 3,400 reports have been received via the FSW Cold App so far. Passersby who see homeless people in the cold can use the app to get support from street social work. Social workers follow up on the reports and inform the homeless about the winter package offers, distribute sleeping bags, or refer them to facilities of the Vienna homeless assistance.
For the summer of 2025, capacities in emergency shelters will be increased again for particularly vulnerable homeless or housing-insecure people. In addition to the approximately 7,000 housing and care places of the Vienna homeless assistance, which are available all year round, 278 places for individuals and 28 places for families in four emergency shelters will remain open until the start of the next winter package. "Compared to last summer, there are about 70 more places for individuals," says Markus Hollendohner, head of the Vienna homeless assistance at FSW.
"Homelessness exists 365 days a year, and the heat is becoming more and more of a danger for people without a roof over their heads. Therefore, we are very pleased that the emergency shelter places are being increased this summer. In the Caritas emergency shelter in Meidling alone, we can offer sleeping places for 71 particularly vulnerable people with the support of the city and the Vienna Social Fund, thus providing for those who urgently need our help," says Caritas director Klaus Schwertner.
(APA/Red)
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