WIEN. “The housing crisis has only just begun. The price crisis and the multiple rent increases in recent months have hit everyone. It is particularly difficult for people on low incomes who often have no access to subsidized housing, such as people who have only recently moved here.” says the AK local politics expert Mara Verlic on the occasion of the AK event “Housing for the Many” and warns: ” “More people need access to affordable housing. This is the only way we can fight poverty in the long term.”
According to the AK, around 1.9 million people in Austria will have difficulties paying housing costs in the next few months and have to fear that the housing costs in more than 341,000 households account for more than 40 percent of household income. Because many people with particularly low incomes have to rent living space on the overpriced private housing market. For example, newly arrived people with very low incomes often pay more than 10 euros per square meter in housing costs because they do not yet have access to subsidized housing. Every fifth person with an income below the poverty line of 1,370 euros lives in overcrowded apartments that are often of very poor quality.
“With an income at the poverty line of 1,300 euros, at best 780 euros remain for food, clothing and other things in life. Many more people simply need access to affordable housing. The federal government, cities and states must act here. The housing cost crisis must not become a permanent poverty trap,” so Verlic.
Demands: 5 points
The AK expert says the following as a solution: “An effective rent brake is only a first step. Affordable housing must be made possible, especially for the poorest. The federal and state governments must do more for this.” and demands 5 points on behalf of the AK.
- ) An effective rent brake for all rental apartments. Away with fixed-term leases.
2.) The federal government must ensure that land belonging to the general public is only built on with subsidized housing.
3.) The federal states must offer more subsidized housing and also improve access for newcomers
3.) In Vienna, the allocation category “subsidized housing” prescribes that in construction projects of currently 5,000 square meters gross, two thirds of the apartments are reserved for subsidized housing. This must be increased to four-fifths and should apply to smaller construction projects from 2,500 square meters.
4. ) Access to the Wiener Wohnticket must be improved for people in difficult circumstances, for example by introducing the access criterion “housing cost overburden”.