Vienna groups warn cuts could weaken social services

Social organisations in Vienna warn that planned 2027 cuts could reduce support for vulnerable people. The coalition Wien bleibt anders raised the alarm over savings at the Vienna Social Fund, the city’s social services fund, in a report by ORF.

The coalition said the cuts could mean fewer services for people with disabilities and children and young people in crisis, reduced integration opportunities for refugees, and more homelessness. “Every 20th counselling session and every 20th job in the social sector are at risk,” said its spokesperson, Robert Mittermair. The group called for reforms developed through dialogue.

According to the coalition, social organisations are already under pressure. Funding and service rates have often risen more slowly than inflation in recent years, while some facilities have closed and services have been reduced. It said the planned savings would amount to at least 3 per cent of the fund’s budget in 2027. Staff and material costs are also expected to rise by about 3 per cent. With little scope to influence rent and energy costs, the coalition said, cuts would mainly affect staffing and leave less time for counselling, care and support.

The coalition warned that the effects of cuts may not become apparent for months or years. It said young people could fall into difficulty, youth crime could rise, and people with mental illnesses could more often end up in inpatient psychiatric care or in custodial measures. It also warned that people with disabilities could lose independence and require care, while people who lose minimum-income support could be unable to afford their homes.

Staff and care places are already in short supply in these fields, the coalition said. It warned that planned cuts in the hundreds of millions of euros would worsen the situation and threaten social cohesion.

Wien bleibt anders called for joint long-term planning and structural reforms, particularly in prevention and coordination between services, such as disability support and care or refugee assistance and homelessness services. It said early, coordinated support could help prevent people from falling into precarious situations and needing more extensive help later.