Housing Crisis and Homelessness in Austria: Where to Get Help

If you cannot pay your rent, face eviction or have nowhere to sleep, you can find help in several places in Austria. The federal Wohnschirm programme and support organisations in the provinces work together to prevent people from being left without housing. This guide explains the available options in 2026.

What counts as a housing crisis?

A housing crisis does not only mean sleeping on the street. Homelessness (Wohnungslosigkeit) can take several forms:

• Acute homelessness: you have no accommodation at all.
• Temporary accommodation: you are staying in an emergency shelter, residential facility or supported housing (betreutes Wohnen).
• Imminent homelessness: you are at risk of losing your home or face threatened eviction (Delogierung).
• Potential homelessness: your rent is unaffordable compared with your income, for example.
• Hidden homelessness: you are temporarily staying with friends or acquaintances, for example.
• Unacceptable housing conditions: your home is damp, cannot be heated or is poorly heated, or is overcrowded.

This is important because support organisations can help before the situation becomes an emergency.

What help is available?

Homelessness support institutions (Einrichtungen der Wohnungslosenhilfe) work together with local authorities. Their services include:

• advice and counselling,
• eviction prevention (Delogierungsprävention),
• emergency shelters (Notschlafstellen),
• daytime programmes and day centres,
• temporary accommodation (Übergangswohnen),
• residential facilities (Wohnheime).

The provinces and non-governmental organisations also offer programmes to prevent eviction.

The Wohnschirm programme

Wohnschirm is a programme of the social ministry (BMASGPK) that aims to prevent and end homelessness. It is subsidiary: it steps in when your own resources, or support from the province, city or municipality, are not enough or are not available.

WOHNSCHIRM MIETE

• Who it is for: tenants who have rent arrears, cannot pay them and may therefore lose their home.
• What it can provide: payment of rent arrears, or financial support to move into a new affordable home.

WOHNSCHIRM HOUSING FIRST

• Who it is for: people experiencing homelessness who cannot leave the situation through their own efforts.
• What it can provide: an affordable home arranged with support from a social worker, as well as coverage of rental costs such as a deposit and financing contribution.

WOHNSCHIRM ENERGIE

• Who it is for: people on a low income, in cases where support is considered justified.
• What it can provide: one-time coverage of energy arrears when an energy disconnection is directly threatened or has already taken place.

The principle of Housing First is that you receive your own home first and then get further support.

How does the application process work?

For Wohnschirm MIETE, the first step is free advice from social workers. You can then submit an application for the payment of arrears or moving support. For energy arrears, a decision on coverage can also be made after counselling and an application.

You can find the list of counselling centres and answers to frequently asked questions on the Wohnschirm website.

Where can you find help in your province?

Local organisations operate in every province. Examples include:

• Vienna: Wiener Wohnungslosenhilfe (Fonds Soziales Wien), P7, bzWO, Gruft, Obdach Wien, Volkshilfe Wien (FAWOS)
• Lower Austria: Caritas Beratungsstelle für Wohnungssicherung, BEWOK, Verein Wohnen
• Upper Austria: ARGE für Obdachlose (Linz), Verein Wohnplattform, Mosaik (Vöcklabruck)
• Burgenland: Caritas Burgenland, Sozialhaus Burgenland
• Carinthia: Caritas Kärnten, Volkshilfe Kärnten, Klagenfurter Beratungsstelle für Mieter
• Styria: WOG (Caritas Graz-Seckau)
• Salzburg: Caritas Wohnungslosenhilfe, Soziale Arbeit GmbH
• Tyrol: Caritas Tirol, DOWAS Innsbruck, ISD, Verein für Obdachlose
• Vorarlberg: DOWAS Vorarlberg, Caritas Vorarlberg

Special services in Vienna

In Vienna, Fonds Soziales Wien coordinates the system in cooperation with more than 90 institutions. P7 (Caritas) is the central first point of contact. It provides information about emergency shelters, medical services and social services. bzWO allocates supported accommodation for women, men, couples and families.

There are also services for specific groups. a_way provides overnight accommodation for young people aged 14 to 20. FrauenWohnZentrum is for women over 18, while Haus Immanuel is for mothers and their children.

Frequently asked questions

Can I ask for help only after I am already sleeping rough?

No. Eviction prevention and Wohnschirm MIETE are specifically intended to help before you lose your home if you have rent arrears.

Do I have to pay for counselling?

No. Wohnschirm counselling is free in cases involving rent arrears, homelessness or an energy disconnection.

Can I get help if my electricity has been disconnected?

If you have a low income and the case is considered justified, Wohnschirm ENERGIE may cover the energy arrears once after counselling and an application, including where the disconnection has already occurred.

Where should I start in Vienna?

P7 is the central first point of contact for people experiencing homelessness. Gruft is open 24 hours a day and provides medical care and sleeping places.

Practical steps

1. Contact a local homelessness support organisation or a Wohnschirm counselling centre as soon as you have rent arrears or fear losing your home.
2. Ask for free counselling from social workers.
3. Discuss whether Wohnschirm MIETE, WOHNSCHIRM HOUSING FIRST or WOHNSCHIRM ENERGIE is relevant to your situation.
4. Submit the required application for rent arrears, moving support or energy arrears after counselling.
5. If you are in Vienna and need immediate accommodation or information, contact P7; Gruft is open 24 hours a day.

Source: oesterreich.gv.at