Caritas Raises Alarm: Homelessness Could Increase Significantly

The cuts in the social sector would worsen the situation for many people in Austria, explained Klaus Schwertner, Caritas director of the Archdiocese of Vienna, on Wednesday at a press conference in the Vienna care center "Gruft". "Because savings are also being made on people who are already up against the wall."

Around 21,000 people in Austria are homeless or without housing according to the Catholic aid organization - with a "double the number of unreported cases". Since 2008, the number of registered homeless people has increased by 22 percent, or around 4,000 people, said Schwertner. Due to the cuts, "thousands of people with subsidiary protection" are now threatened with eviction by 2026 at the latest. Also, "massive" cuts in addiction help would hit the homeless hard.

Caritas and Moderator Stermann call for donations

In cold temperatures, life on the street is life-threatening, which is why the Caritas winter emergency aid has been running since November. This year, the Vienna Caritas also promoted a "Gruft winter package" with prominent support, which is intended to provide a needy person with a sleeping bag and seven meals for a donation of 70 euros.

Comedian Dirk Stermann appealed for more solidarity at the Caritas presentation: "This winter package is the least that people like me and many others can do." Vienna is built on a social foundation, "and I think we must always be aware that this is what makes our city." Lis Pichler, head of the Gruft, once again advocated calling the cold phone, "if you see homeless people on the street."

Caritas makes political demands

"We understand that savings have to be made," emphasized Caritas director Schwertner, "but please not for the most vulnerable groups." Specifically, the organization is calling for "social compatibility checks" from the government, with which the impact of measures on vulnerable groups such as minimum pensioners, homeless people, or large families and single parents should be examined by experts.

In addition, Caritas wants changes to the cheap electricity law and an action plan for affordable housing. Anyone who saves on services for "mentally or chronically ill people with disabilities, children, and already homeless people" is "putting social cohesion at risk."

(APA/Red)

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