Heated debate about addiction help center: residents raise the alarm!

Heated debate about addiction help center: residents raise the alarm!

The first meeting of the new district council took place in Mariahilf on June 12th, and the topic caused a stir: the concept of measures for the Jedmayer addiction help facility on Gumpendorfer Straße was the focus of the debate. District leader Markus Rumelhart (SPÖ), who was on sick leave, had his deputy Julia Lessacher (SPÖ) chair the meeting. Residents expressed loud concerns about noise pollution and conflicts surrounding the facility, which has long been a topic of conversation in the neighborhood. According to a report by Euda Such problems are often linked to homelessness and drug use, which are increasingly visible in urban areas such as Mariahilf.

The discussion was shaped by different political voices. ÖVP club chairman Gerhard Hammerer criticized the lack of a comprehensive strategy at the city level and referred to an application from September 2024 for the residents' meeting that has so far remained unanswered. FPÖ representative Lukas Korp followed up, noting that the situation at Jedmayer has not improved, while calling for the facility to be relocated away from residential areas. The SPÖ club chairman Josef Zeisel, on the other hand, emphasized the desire to find real solutions and to take the concerns of residents seriously instead of simply shifting problems away.

The reality on Mariahilfer Straße

But the challenges associated with addiction care go beyond this debate. How Cosmo reports, Mariahilfer Straße, one of Vienna's most important shopping streets, has undergone a worrying development during and after the corona pandemic. Homelessness and substance abuse currently dominate the picture. Public seating areas are often occupied by homeless people and people in the addictive community. The catering establishments are severely affected and are struggling with complaints about noise and odor nuisances.

Particular incidents, such as vodka bottles being thrown into pub gardens or passers-by being shot at with darts, show the escalation of the situation. A large proportion of the homeless also come from Eastern European countries, which further complicates the problem. Districts like Mariahilf and Neubau are now trying to counteract this with a package of measures that includes, among other things, intensifying street social work and expanding accommodation for the homeless.

What's next for the future?

The district council finally approved a multi-party proposal on the concept of measures for Jedmayer and asked the city to evaluate the situation in the area and develop concrete measures. All 16 motions were approved unanimously or by a majority, indicating broad political consensus. Joachim Thaler from the Greens took the opportunity to wish the district leader a speedy recovery and a nice summer.

The next meeting of the district council is scheduled for September 11th, and by then it remains to be seen whether the conditions around Jedmayer and the general situation on Mariahilfer Straße will improve.