Alarming youth homelessness in Vienna: a third are under 30!

Alarming youth homelessness in Vienna: a third are under 30!

A third of all homeless people in Vienna are under 30 years old. This worrying figure, which affects around 5,000 young people, highlights a problem that has not just existed since yesterday, but has become worse in recent years. The situation of young people like Maximilian, who at the age of 16 had to spend several nights in an emergency shelter, is particularly alarming. His last experiences are anything but rosy: after conflicts with his mother, he sees no future in his own home. In Vienna, where the cost of living is skyrocketing and living space is becoming increasingly scarce, youth homelessness is becoming an urgent challenge for society, as Caritas warns. This organization calls for nationwide solutions and uniform standards in child and youth welfare in order to better support young people at risk Vienna ORF.

The Caritas emergency shelter A_way in Ottakring offers young adults between the ages of 14 and 20 short-term shelter. An attempt is made to provide the young people affected with ten beds, warm meals and support from social workers - but that is only a drop in the ocean. Tom Adrian, director of the facility, explains that statistically recording homelessness is particularly challenging. Different collection methods in the federal states and data protection problems make it difficult to collect well-founded data that would be necessary for targeted measures.

Background of homelessness

The reasons for the increasing number of young homeless people are diverse and often tragic. Violence in the family, lack of support and early biographical breaks are considered typical factors. Klaus Schwertner, director of Caritas Vienna, explains that many young people try to keep their homelessness secret and stay overnight with friends or acquaintances. The age limits are particularly problematic: after compulsory schooling at the age of 15.5 or when coming of age, there is often a break in previous living conditions. An analysis by Caritas shows that 76 percent of these young people have broken off contact with their family, a circumstance that further worsens the prospect of a secure home.

The tragedy of this situation is also visible in Maximilian, who, even though he has finished school, continues to struggle with his living conditions. He distances himself from former school colleagues, whom he perceives as negative, and considers grand professional plans, such as his dream career as a stonemason, to be unrealistic. This closes the circle: the pressure and challenges add up and ultimately benefit no one. Caritas is therefore not only calling for targeted support offers for young homeless people, but also for an increase in resources for solutions, especially for the so-called care leavers, who are often left without support at the age of 18.

The way into the future

An important concern remains the creation of affordable housing and a needs-based minimum income. A legal entitlement to long-term support should apply until the age of 24 in order to give young people a real perspective and protect them from homelessness. Schwertner emphasizes: “Early support is the be-all and end-all.” The social responsibility is clear – there is an urgent need for action.