Chronicle
The state of Carinthia will reorganize and streamline social assistance. As a first step, housing assistance will be restructured. Twice as many people as before will be able to apply for the funds in the future, as income limits will be raised. For the first time, there will also be housing assistance for homeowners with low income.
The Carinthian SPÖ-ÖVP coalition announced a – as they say – “social policy milestone” on Monday. Starting January 1st, twice as many people as before will be able to apply for housing assistance. However, there will no longer be a separate heating cost subsidy – other one-time payments such as the Carinthia bonus will also be eliminated. This means fewer forms and savings in administration, according to coalition representatives. The current budget of 26.6 million euros will be increased to 52 million euros for 2025. Deputy Governor Gabriele Schaunig (SPÖ) stated: “This is a consolidation of all existing budget pots”.
New Housing Assistance
Maximum 325 Euros per month
Support will be provided for a living space of 50 square meters per person. For each additional person, an additional ten square meters apply. The income limit for housing assistance is 1,800 euros net per month, and for each child, an additional 200 euros is added. Thus, a person can receive a maximum of 325 euros per month – for four people, up to 500 euros per month at most. For example, a single parent with three children, a monthly net income of 1,800 euros, and a rent of 800 euros can receive an annual relief of 3,708 euros.
For Homeowners for the First Time
The law includes an increase in the rent upper limit from 7.80 euros to 10.60 euros per square meter. Schaunig emphasized that this allows smaller apartments with higher rents to qualify for housing assistance. However, the current rental levels were taken into consideration in the deliberations to avoid pushing rental prices further up with too strong an adjustment. In the future, 42,000 people are expected to be eligible.
For the first time, there will also be housing assistance for homeowners, said ÖVP parliamentary leader Markus Malle. For example, a widow with a home can be supported if she has difficulty with high operating costs.
Team Carinthia Welcomes New Housing Assistance
Team Carinthia leader Gerhard Köfer welcomes the implementation of the new Carinthian housing assistance, which represents a basic security for housing. He had already introduced the idea in December: “I am pleased that my idea has been taken up and is now being implemented.”