Luxury apartments for refugees: How to integrate into Favoriten!

Luxury apartments for refugees: How to integrate into Favoriten!

An innovative residential project is currently being built at Favoritenstrasse 186 in Vienna's 10th district, which not only offers state-of-the-art architecture, but also represents a ray of hope for many recognized refugees. The apartments were originally supposed to be rented out via real estate platforms, but there weren't enough interested parties. Therefore, the owner family, a well-known Viennese car dealer dynasty, decided to give the 110 apartments, which are equipped with air conditioning, balconies or gardens, to fugitive families. 106 of these units are now rented, with the majority of the new residents being families, some of whom have even been brought together. The project is carried out in cooperation with Diakonie and the Vienna Social Fund and aims to enable refugees to live independently without state support.

What is special about this pilot project is not only the high-quality furnishings, but also the obligations of the tenants. They not only have to cover rent and operating costs independently, but are also obliged to take part in German courses, workshops and consultations. “We want to actively support the integration of refugees,” explains a representative of Diakonie, which has been working in refugee aid for almost 30 years. The aim is not only to offer migrants a roof over their heads, but also to accompany them on their way to independence.

A new home for refugees

The apartments on Favoritenstrasse are between 32 and 99 square meters in size and offer space for one to four-room apartments. The modern facilities with gardens, balconies or even terraces are particularly appealing to many refugee families who will be moving into their new homes in the next few weeks. As part of the project, tenants must sign a contract that obliges them to actively work on their integration. But the rents are not free; The residents have to carry these themselves, which is a major challenge for many.

“This project has the potential to improve the living conditions of many people,” said the positive feedback from residents who have already made donations in kind. Close contact with the local community is highly valued by those responsible and viewed as important for integration.

Long-term perspectives

The time frame of the project is limited to 18 months, although an evaluation and the possibility of continuation remain open. What is particularly noteworthy is that this housing project runs parallel to other initiatives such as Caritas' “starter apartments for migrants”, which also offer apartments for a maximum of three years and provide support from social workers. These offers aim to make living conditions stable and to actively promote integration.

Anyone looking for a housing solution or needing support in Vienna can contact the Vienna Social Fund's advice centers. The positive approach of these projects shows that there are ways beyond acute emergency situations. The new perspective on the issue of integration and the provision of living space could be an important building block for the future of the city.

For further information and help requests, visit the websites of Today, Cosmo as well as Caritas available.