Cold, psyche, heating – poor families were hit hard by inflation in winter

A study by Volkshilfe and GÖG among more than 100 parents affected by poverty shows that many of the families live in unhealthy living conditions and, partly because of the cold in their own homes, seek shelter in public spaces, for example in shopping centres.

Children’s needs should be limited
Last year, inflation was 8.6 percent and household energy prices rose particularly sharply by 37 percent compared to 2021, Schmidt reported. 58 percent of parents interviewed in February and March stated that they are limiting their children’s other needs – such as leisure activities, clothing and food – due to rising heating costs.

103 parents of a total of 202 children under the age of eleven who were taken care of in Volkshilfe Österreich’s project “Securing a livelihood for children and young people influenced by poverty and at risk of poverty during the pandemic”, which covers about 500 households , were questioned. The study is therefore not representative of the population group. This is difficult to ask because sometimes there are language barriers or those affected do not want to participate, explains co-author Hanna Lichtenberger of the research team “Abolishing Child Poverty” from Volkshilfe Austria.

mold in the apartment
Nevertheless, the scientific analysis paints a picture of “really poverty stricken families” with proven low incomes, explains Ernest Aigner of the GÖG. A quarter or more of respondents reported dampness or mold in their homes, with mold having long-term health consequences such as asthma, the researchers said. About a third of the parents indicate that their heating system consumes a lot of energy and almost half that the windows in the apartment leak.

Children’s rooms are often the only heated room
Three out of four households dress children in warmer clothes, sometimes also street winter clothes, to protect them from the cold in the living room. Children’s rooms are often heated more than other rooms or as the only room, respondents indicate. “This shows that the well-being of the child is really the focus for parents affected by poverty,” Aigner said. A quarter use public space to escape the cold at home. “We know from poverty research that shopping malls are also a haven for young people living in poverty,” explains Lichtenberger.

In the summer it is easier for poor people to spend their free time in parks or public bathing areas, for example, but this is less possible in the winter, reports the Volkshilfe researcher. “The general price increase is 90 percent a stressful situation,” reports GÖG expert Aigner of the study. The study’s co-author stressed that three in 10 are mentally stressed due to the fact that they “cannot protect their children from the cold”.

The research shows a need for public and free spaces and indoor playgrounds to warm up, Lichtenberger said. Afternoon care is also needed “that is affordable for everyone”, parents would deregister their children from it to save costs. “There are also families who sign the children off for lunch,” says the Volkshilfe expert. Your organization is also advocating for basic child security, as is already planned in Germany, so that affected families receive means-tested financial support in addition to child benefit, Lichtenberger emphasized.