"A right-wing Chancellor Kickl worries me as a citizen and also in my role," said the neunerhaus managing director in an APA interview. To restore the heavily strained budget, cuts should not be made at the expense of the most vulnerable.

Cuts to the Social Fund Vienna, from which a large part of the homelessness assistance is financed, are also on the table, according to Hammer. "Structural savings in the services of homelessness assistance pose a great risk. It would produce homelessness, I dare to predict this based on the economic development in the federal government, the high housing costs that do not keep pace with incomes, and based on poverty statistics," she warns. Actually, investments need to be made now to prevent the numbers of the homeless from rising in the future, "if that is not possible, we need extremely committed work on how to make the services more effective and efficient."

Affordable Housing "Not at the Center" of Negotiators

Hammer does not believe that the ÖVP and FPÖ would adequately counteract homelessness. In terms of housing policy, one of the People's Party's buzzwords is the promotion of home ownership. "For people with low incomes, especially in urban areas, this is simply not an achievable option," says Hammer. There needs to be an expansion of municipal and non-profit housing as well as a dedicated use of housing subsidies to create more affordable rental apartments. "However, I do not believe that this is at the center (of ÖVP and FPÖ, note)."

The FPÖ demands in its election program, among other things, "starter apartments" for young families. "Those who have many children pay accordingly less," is the credo of the Freedom Party. Basically, anything that facilitates access to the housing market is commendable, says Hammer. However, such support must apply to "different family forms" and should not depend on the number of children.

She is also not enthusiastic about the FPÖ's stance "No German, no apartment." "Housing is the foundation for everything, including work. Not every job requires perfect German skills, let alone dialect knowledge, but every job requires secure, affordable housing, and that is what we advocate for." Non-profit housing must also remain accessible to people with non-German native languages and "without a long work and housing history in Austria."

She fears an increased aversion towards people who are particularly vulnerable. In the federal states where the FPÖ and the ÖVP are already governing together, it is noticeable "how people are talked about who are already marginalized and excluded." When several homeless people became targets of attacks last year, she was "touched by the large public outcry." "That civil society also draws red lines there has strengthened me." Since then, however, the discourse has shifted again, with much less talk about poverty, and homeless people are once again being criminalized.

Hammer "alarmed"

The "Wohnschirm," a nationwide project for support when rent can no longer be paid, has proven effective. "I assume that this will be maintained. Actually, it should be expanded," said Hammer. "Housing first" should also be expanded, a program where those affected should live in their own apartment as quickly as possible instead of in emergency shelters.

Currently, about 21,000 people are registered as homeless nationwide, with the dark figure likely being significantly higher. "I have been concerned for several years, but now I am alarmed," warns Hammer. The waiting times are currently particularly long in all segments - stationary housing forms as well as mobile and low-threshold offers. "If we do not succeed in reducing this 'backlog' and making municipal and non-profit housing accessible to target groups that we already have, then we will have a problem in the future." The tip of the iceberg is young people and young adults who are particularly at risk, as recently shown by the case of a 16-year-old in Vorarlberg who was left homeless by the authorities.

Everything about the National Council election

(APA/Red)

This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.