Rising homelessness fills VinziRast beds in Vienna

Rising evictions are contributing to more homelessness in Vienna, and VinziRast was at full capacity this summer for the first time, the aid organisation told ORF. Chair Veronica Kerres described the situation as “really precarious” and said staff had to turn many people away.

“In previous years, we always had beds available,” Kerres said in an interview with ORF’s “Wien heute” programme. This year, the service was fully occupied.

VinziRast runs an emergency night shelter on Wilhelmstraße in Meidling. Its VinziRast-mittendrin housing project focuses on helping people who have experienced homelessness to re-enter society. It accommodates 26 residents in 10 shared flats on Währinger Straße, where formerly homeless people live with students.

Residents stay for an average of about two years. According to VinziRast, a quarter find their own housing after six months.

World Homeless Day is observed on October 10. Its organisers are unclear, but the day aims to raise awareness of homelessness and measures to address it.