With its successful model of affordable housing and its relatively strong welfare state, Austria has the potential to end homelessness via Housing First. And indeed, the approach was successfully brought to scale – from local innovation to a national government programme ending homelessness for thousands.

From local innovation…

As early as 2012, Housing First was first brought to Austria by neunerhaus in Vienna and by VinziDach in Salzburg. The City of Graz followed in 2013 with a Housing First project for Women led by the organisation Jugend am Werk as a response to the overcrowded women’s shelters in the city.

Nowadays, the city of Vienna and the region of Vorarlberg implement Housing First as a permanent offer amongst its homelessness services.

… to a nation-wide initiative

2021 kicked off the first nation-wide Housing First initiative named “housing first austria – arriving home.”

It was implemented by 26 NGOs across seven federal states, with BAWO, the Austrian umbrella organisation of homelessness services, coordinating it nationally. Funds came from Austria’s Ministry of Social Affairs.

Each organisation used its local contexts to implement Housing First, some for the very first time. Organisations were supported by shared learning activities. Until 2024, the initiative housed about 2,000 people.

… to government programme

As a major step in 2024, WOHNSCHIRM – a programme by Austria’s Ministry of Social Affairs aimed at preventing eviction and ending homelessness – launched WOHNSCHIRM HOUSING FIRST. The programme is implemented by Housing First Austria, a new BAWO-affiliated organisation.

By the end of 2026, WOHNSCHIRM HOUSING FIRST aims to house 2,500 homeless people. A close collaboration with Austria’s large limited-profit housing sector unlocks affordable homes. In addition to housing allocation and social work, the programme funds entry costs to housing such as upfront contributions or deposits. Thus, the programme eradicates financial hurdles and makes affordable housing possible for those most in need. The programme furthers the engagement of housing providers, municipalities and various stakeholders along with offering mutual learning platforms for practitioners.

… to ending homelessness?

Austria’s current government’s commits itself to the Housing First approach. And further commitment will be needed:

Despite the very positive developments in the past years, homelessness remains consistently high in Austria, with 20,000 people being registered as homeless and many more living in hidden homelessness.

To fully live up to its potential and end homelessness, BAWO advocates for continuing and scaling up WOHNSCHIRM HOUSING FIRST beyond 2026. This can best be done within a national strategy on ending homelessness, involving coherent social- and housing policies.

Overview by BAWO – housing for all

• About 20,000 people are registered as homeless. Taking into account hidden homelessness, the real number is estimated to be twice as high.
• 6% of people have experienced a period of homelessness.
• About 1.5 million people are at risk of poverty. 554,000 people spend over 40% of their income on rent.
• Housing First has a 15-year-long history in Austria.
• A current government programme aims to end homelessness for 2,500 people.
• About half of the population live in rent. About 25% live in limited-profit or municipal housing.
• Rent on the limited-profit housing are on average 25% lower than on the for-profit market.
• The government recently introduced a rent cap on regulated housing sectors.

© Christopher Mavric for BAWO