More and more families – High costs cause homelessness in Vienna

More and more people end up in the poverty trap, often resulting in homelessness. Alexander Maier, head of homeless help at the MUT association, reports: “We have seen a 50 to 60 percent increase in food distribution in recent months. In terms of our housing, where we operate emergency shelters, we already have 20 percent more applications in 2022 (until August only) than in 2021.”

At the local inspectorate “Krone” in the Johanniter building on Gunoldstraße, manager Martin Einfalt looks at the winter with concern: “We notice that the number of evictions is increasing due to price increases. It is depressing that more and more families with children are becoming homeless.”

A whole house full of touching destinies
In the former office building, 212 people can sleep and eat hot food. On the first floor there are eleven family rooms that are fully occupied. About 35-year-old Angela. The four-month-old daughter lies in the crib in the small room: “I used to work illegally as a cleaner, that was a mistake.” She doesn’t know when she can give her child a roof over her head.

Maryan, 45, lives a few rooms away with her family. She is the mother of six children: “Two of them live in Russia, the others here in the room with us. The classmates know nothing about it,” says the woman with tears in her eyes. “My husband was in a car accident and lost two friends. He suffers from epilepsy,” says Maryan, who put her in this predicament.

The story of a level 3 resident is similar: “I injured my hands while working on the construction site, so I was fired. During the summer months I slept in the woods. I’ve lost everything,” says Ibra, who now shares a room with three strangers. There are no boxes, which is why thefts happen again and again. It is not uncommon for a police car to be parked in the small forecourt of the house on which the children are cycling.

“The stories of our residents move me,” says co-house manager Katharina Hörmann, who ran a travel agency before Corona. “My heart breaks when someone from our house makes the leap back into life.”

“Five years ago I drank my last beer”
One who made it is Sandor Balog. He lived on the streets for 15 years: “First I lost my job, then I couldn’t pay the rent, and then alcohol came.” And how could he escape the vicious circle? “Five years ago I decided to drink my last beer. That was the starting signal. Then I could look for a job again.” Today, Mr. Balog works for the MUT association and helps others find their way back in life.