This project was a winner in the European Responsible Housing Awards 2022 under the ‘Going the extra mile in extraordinary circumstances’, organised by Housing Europe, the International Union of Tenants and DELPHIS.
Organisation: GBV Austrian Federation of Limited-Profit Housing Associations and BAWO
Goals
Emergency assistance during the Covid-19 pandemic and long-term solutions to social issues can go hand-in-hand. “zuhause ankommen”[arriving home] responds to housing challenges that intensified during the pandemic while at the same time implementing a sustainable strategy to end homelessness.
From May 2021 to April 2022, “zuhause ankommen” allocated 240 apartments for 600 people lacking access to affordable housing in five regions in Austria. The Austrian Federal Ministry of Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection funded the project with € 2.650.000.
It targeted people most affected by the socio-economic fallout as a result of Covid-19 measures. Specifically, the project reaches out to homeless people and people at risk of homelessness. By lowering the financial threshold for affordable housing, the project ensures access to people who were previously barred from the socially-bound housing market.
“zuhause ankommen” builds a multi-stakeholder coalition to end homelessness that is ready to deal with the complex issue of homelessness in a sustainable and effective way.
“zuhause ankommen” upscales the Housing First approach to a national level. Currently, the project works by implementing a supraregional strategy. The aim is to raise awareness on homelessness and offer a solution.
In accordance with the Lisbon Declaration on the EU Platform on Combatting Homelessness, “zuhause ankommen” offers an approach to end homelessness by 2030. Through a strategic outreach, communication, and advocacy work, the project aims to achieve a lasting impact on public awareness and policy-making.
Context
Various lockdown measures during the Covid-19 pandemic have impacted economically vital sectors, such as hospitality, tourism, and trade, leaving many in dire situations. In addition, the measures have had negative effects on many people’s mental health and social situation. While subsidies on rent have been provided by the Austrian government in 2020, experts including BAWO, the Austrian National Platform of Social Services Provided for the Homeless now predict a rise in poverty, evictions, and homelessness.
At the same time, pressure on affordable housing in Austria increases with the development of prices for construction, rent, and wages. As a result, housing pressure has reached the middle class, further marginalising already vulnerable groups. Statistics reflect this issue: over 22.000 people in Austria are registered as homeless. It is likely that this number is far exceeded by unreported cases.
Limited-profit housing associations are key actors for housing inclusion through affordable rents, as well as their social mandate. However, even in this segment, the most vulnerable groups face structural difficulties. Potential tenants are required to invest in tenants’ upfront contributions – sums that are often unaffordable to people below or near the poverty line.
When aiming to provide housing for all, it is vital to avoid territorial social segregation. As housing pressure on the middle class also grows, affordable and adequate housing becomes less accessible to the most vulnerable groups and the risk of housing segregation is further increasing.
“zuhause ankommen” is can be seen as a model, showcasing how the most marginalised groups can be granted access to affordable housing. It represents both an emergency response to people who have become homeless due to the pandemic as well as a model to combat homelessness in the long run.
“zuhause ankommen” brings together the Austrian limited-profit housing sector and the social service sector. The housing sector is represented by GBV, the Austrian Federation of Limited-Profit Housing Associations and the social service sector is represented by BAWO. Member organisations on both sides collaborate on allocating flats and providing social care. Project expenses are funded by the Austrian Federal Ministry of Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection.
Tenants’ upfront contributions, which are often an access barrier to people affected by poverty, are covered by the project budget. In addition, the project covers moving expenses and professional social support. Social organisations match available homes with people affected by homelessness and provide assistance at the arrival to the new home. This social assistance is needs-based and voluntary, fostering self-sufficiency and independence.
What is innovative about this project?
“zuhause ankommen” implements Housing First (HF) as an innovative method within homeless services. While traditional approaches try to make people ‘housing ready’ by putting into place various intermediary steps before “allowing” independent housing, HF uses housing as a starting point. The method provides a decent living to the most vulnerable[1]. There are already some regional HF programs in Austria, however, “zuhause ankommen” is the first implementation on a national level with the goal to become a regular practice. The collaboration between the housing sector and the social service sector in a multi-level and multi-professional way has also further evolved.
The apartments dedicated to the project are not concentrated in a few buildings but distributed over the entire social housing stock. The project follows a participatory approach by carefully matching suitable and affordable housing with potential tenants instead of a top-down allocation.
This innovative approach supports social inclusion, mixed communities, and stable tenancies.
Interventions
Administrative support
The complex structure of “zuhause ankommen” asks for a set of legal documents. A template for a three-party-contract between the tenant, housing association and the social service organisation ensures smooth proceedings. A template for a data protection contract makes sure tenants’ data is treated according to GDPR-standards.
Rent monitoring
Rent monitoring is an effective instrument for ensuring rent stability for the benefit of tenants as well as landlords and property managers. It intervenes at an early stage in the event of non-payment of rent and ensures timely and solution-oriented communication in order to minimise damages for all three parties damage and avoid evictions.
Communication strategy
Effective strategic communications aim at shifting public perception of homelessness and its new, innovative solutions provided by “zuhause ankommen.” Through a multi-channel approach using social-, digital-, and print media as well as press work, the project’s successes and key messages reach stakeholders, interest groups, decision-makers as well as a broader public audience.
Regular steering group meetings
Every two months, representatives of GBV, BAWO, and social organisations in the five participating regions meet to discuss progress and engage in knowledge-sharing activities. Steering group meetings are held in participating regions.
Evaluation
The final months of the project are accompanied by an evaluation process in the form of workshops and interviews with stakeholders and beneficiaries. The aim is to implement the evaluation in an action research-based manner, allowing for its results to impact the ongoing process. In the long run, the results of this evaluation shall serve as a basis for future efforts in combatting homelessness.
Impact
In total, 240 flats were allocated to people affected by poverty and homelessness. This process is closely monitored, ensuring fair access regarding age and gender.
During the project, more housing associations joined the programme, leading to an increased adaptation of the Housing First principle as a sustainable means to end homelessness and foster reintegration. Currently, 38 limited-profit housing associations are part of the programme.
Tenants and landlords benefit from tools implemented in cooperation with social service organisations to ensure stable tenancies.
On a conceptual level, “zuhause ankommen” creates evidence on innovative housing solutions for vulnerable groups across various Austrian regions, taking into account different needs in rural and urban areas.
The final months of the project were accompanied by an evaluation process in the form of workshops and interviews with stakeholders and beneficiaries. The evaluation will be implemented in an action research-based manner, allowing for its results to impact the ongoing process. In the long run, the results shall serve as a basis for future efforts in combatting homelessness.
Housing First is a key strategy to end homelessness. All tools and resources needed are, in principle, in place. But up to now, these tools and resources have not yet been strategically linked across levels and sectors, and uncertainties among actors have not yet been sufficiently addressed. “zuhause ankommen” builds knowledge and trust between the limited-profit housing sector and the social service sector through a good practice.
Lessons learned
- Strategic project: implementation of a sustainable strategy to contrast homelessness in a long-term perspective.
- Provision of economic support to tenants’ upfront contributions, which are often an access barrier to people affected by poverty. These contributions have been covered by the project budget.
- Social support is provided to the tenants as well.
- Bottom-up and participatory approach aimed at carefully matching suitable and affordable housing to potential tenants.
- Adoption of a rent monitoring system as an effective instrument for ensuring sustainable rent stability for the benefit of tenants.
