Christmas miracle in Vienna: Single parents with four children find refuge!

Christmas miracle in Vienna: Single parents with four children find refuge!

In a dramatic incident, single parent Sabine H. (27) was faced with losing her apartment in Vienna-Favoriten while she had to look after her four children. The shock came abruptly: Despite punctual rent payments and undamaged house rules, she received a letter just months before her rental agreement was due to expire, announcing the termination as of November 30, 2024. “I was shaking for months,” Sabine reported on “Today”. Fears about her future increased when she feared she would become homeless, especially after she had recently given birth to another child. The need led her to the housing commission of the city of Vienna, which ultimately helped her in a very difficult situation.

A Christmas miracle and unresolved problems

After numerous inquiries, Sabine H. was recognized as a hardship case and was assigned an emergency apartment. Fortunately, this was an 80 square meter council flat located close to her children's school - a real bright spot during this difficult time. “I now pay significantly lower rent,” says Sabine happily. But while she is happy about this temporary solution, there remains uncertainty about her bail, which she has not yet received. “I can’t reach anyone at the old landlord,” she complains, reflecting the concerns of many tenants.

The tenants' association has identified this case as symptomatic of a larger problem. In its latest issue, it emphasizes the need for reforms to make housing affordable for everyone and criticizes the fixed-term clauses in rental contracts. The federal real estate company that manages the property is also being questioned for its actions in “Today’s” reporting. “Why do you only give out temporary contracts?” is asked by experts, as similar terminations have also been observed among other tenants in the same building. This raises the question of the extent to which tenants' rights are also respected in residential complexes managed by state-owned companies.

While there is a growing awareness among the population of the need for housing reforms, the tenants' association is calling for solutions that make rents transparent and effectively support tenants. There is a general consensus among citizens that housing should be a fundamental right and that no tenant should find themselves in such desperate situations.