Homelessness around the world: Austria

Near to Germany, Austria is a relatively small European country with a population just shy of 10 million people. However, Austria has a homeless population of just 20,000. This might sound like a shock, compared to the US’s and Germany’s population of roughly 600,000. Lets break down what this number means, how Austria is handling its homeless population, and what lessons we can learn from Austria’s attempts to end homelessness.

Vienna, Austria

The numbers: Compared

Austria has a homeless population of around 20,000 people. However for a population just shy of 10 million, this gives Austria a homeless rate of around 21.7 per 10,000 people. However, in Germany, a country with a population of around 80 million people, their homeless rate comes out to be about 77.4 per 10,000 people. Finally in the United States of America, the nationwide rate is around 20 per 10,000 people, however, the California rate is a much higher 48 people per 10,000, and New York Cities even higher, with the nations highest of with 81 people per 10,000.

So even though Austria’s small homeless population of 20,000 might look impressive on paper compared to the US’s or Germany’s, when taking account of its smaller population, its nationwide rate becomes a lot closer to the US and Germany, a hidden reality. It is also reported that about half of Austrias homeless population live in Vienna, giving the city a rate of 59.7 homeless individuals per 10,000, this time resembling Californias rate. But what is Austria doing to solve this?

Austria’s strategy

Austria, just like Germany, is adoption a housing first model to end homelessness, one where individuals are placed in housing first before getting medical/mental help. They have also adopted a strategy similar to what San Diego is doing, in which social workers, or as we call them case managers, will help individuals manage their new homes, address crises, and navigate daily life challenges.

Austria’s attempts to end homelessness are respectable, and I hope that they do play out in the near future.