Viennese social markets in need: basic foods are scarce!

Viennese social markets in need: basic foods are scarce!

The air becomes thinner in the social markets of the Samaritan Association in Vienna. The demand has increased massively in recent years - by impressive 30 percent! This is not only noticeable on the shelves of the markets, but also in the people's wallet. A look at the four locations, distributed over favorites, Rudolfsheim-Fünfhaus, Meidling, Floridsdorf and Donaustadt, shows that the markets offer an important point of contact for people with low incomes in order to acquire favorable products despite the increasing cost of living. However, the head of the social markets, Georg Jelenko, warns of an impending scarcity of main foods because demand continues to increase.

As of the end of September 2023, around 26,000 Viennese had a purchasing authorization, and the trend is steeply pointed up. These numbers are not only an increase in users, but also an increasing pressure on the resources. Jelenko emphasizes that 1,200 tons of goods are saved every year and offered at discounted prices. But with the increasing prices, the question is how long this offer remains.

Towing and inflation put a strain on households

Even if inflation drops temporarily, the cost of living remains high. Especially with indispensable goods such as energy and food, the increases are dramatic. According to a current analysis, prices for cheap foods have increased by an average of 53 percent since September 2021. A simple shopping experience from four years ago, when the shopping cart still cost 51 euros, increased to almost 78 euros to this day.

The basic foods are particularly struggling: Flour has increased by 88 percent, while noodles have even become 97 percent more expensive. All of this is done in the context of a stagnating poverty risk in Austria, which is discussed in detail by the poverty conference. There it is determined that living conditions have not improved for many people - 2 percent of the population live in poverty, while 14.3 percent are at risk of poverty. Children with a quota of 21 percent and unemployed with alarming 57 percent are particularly affected.

Challenges and solutions

Susanne Drapalik, President of the Samaritan Association of Vienna, emphasizes the need for cohesion and political support in order to counter these challenges. The prices for food and energy could soon reach record levels. The Samaritan Association not only looks for volunteers to keep the social markets going, but is also happy about donations to secure essential care.

The authorization criteria for access to the social markets are clearly defined: individuals may earn a maximum of 1,572 euros annually. For couples, the income limit is 2,358 euros, plus allowances for children. This should support the people who have the most necessary.

In summary, it is a hot iron that the social markets in Vienna have to deal with. While the demand increases and prices do not stop your height flights, the task of ensuring essential care for the most needy fellow citizens remains an urgent challenge.

For further details and current information on poverty statistics in Austria, it is worth taking a look at the pages of the [Armutskonferenz] (https://www.armutskonferenz.at/armut-in-oesterreich/aktuelle-armuts-und- distribution number.html) as well as the samariterbund Vienna.