Vienna social organisations warn of further funding cuts

Vienna social organisations have warned that further budget cuts could threaten their funding, ORF reported. The Vienna bleibt anders alliance, which represents 80 organisations, has urgently asked the city government to hold talks.

The alliance represents organisations working in disability support, refugee assistance, child and youth welfare, and support for people experiencing homelessness. It said the talks should aim to preserve the quality of Vienna’s social safety net at a high level.

The organisations said the city had already closed several projects and advice centres at the beginning of 2026. Cuts to Vienna’s minimum-income scheme had caused significant losses of income for many people as housing and living costs rose, they said. Funding for social organisations had increased well below the inflation rate on average, with child and youth welfare institutions the only exception.

The Vienna Social Fund, which allocates funding in this area, has now announced further drastic savings to social organisations, the alliance said. The organisations expect costs to rise by around 3 percent next year because of collective agreements and inflation, while substantial cuts are planned. Further reductions have also been announced for subsequent years.

The alliance warned that the cuts could affect the quality of life of everyone living in Vienna. It said support was increasingly being put at risk by cuts already implemented and those still planned.

The letter was sent at the beginning of July to Mayor Michael Ludwig, Vice Mayor Barbara Novak, Vice Mayor Bettina Emmerling and Social and Health Councillor Peter Hacker. Hacker’s response referred only to talks already under way between the Vienna Social Fund and the umbrella organisation of Vienna’s social organisations. The alliance said there had so far been no substantive discussions, even though the specific measures were already being coordinated with the city.

Vienna’s Greens criticised the planned savings. Party leader Judith Pühringer said cuts that had begun in the social sector a year ago were continuing, accusing the Social Democrats of losing their social compass.

VertretungsNetz, an organisation representing people in need of support, also warned against further savings. Its managing director, Gerlinde Heim, said cuts to social organisations would hit vulnerable people particularly hard, threaten self-determination and participation, and increase poverty, dependence and exclusion. The loss of necessary support services could also create high follow-up costs, she said.