Attacks on the homeless: Vienna Social Fund also opens shelter at night

2023-08-12 10:00:10

From Saturday, the FSW day center Obdach Josi will also be available to homeless people as a retreat in the evenings and at night

Vienna (OTS) – “The group of homeless people, who have recently been the subject of massive hostility, currently needs urgent support against physical attacks. That’s why I commissioned the Vienna Social Fund to offer direct help beyond the existing offer,” explains City Councilor for Social Affairs Peter Hacker. In addition to the immediate measures already underway in Vienna’s homeless assistance, including raising awareness among users of facilities and homeless people about reporting perceptions to the police and strengthening cooperation, additional care offers were examined.

Immediate action by FSW shelter

In the current situation, the Fonds Soziales Wien (FSW) together with FSW Obdach is creating an additional shelter for homeless people for the evening and night hours. The FSW day center Obdach Josi also opens at night. In addition to day-time operations, homeless people now also have the opportunity to stay in Josi’s rooms at night – from now until further notice. The first night operation in the Obdach Josi day center will take place from Saturday to Sunday and offers a shelter with a capacity for up to 50 people.

“We were able to fill night shifts with employees within a very short time. It is an unprecedented situation for us in helping the homeless to have to open day centers at night as well. But it is a matter of course for us to offer help in the current situation and very quickly,” emphasizes Barbara Trsek, Head of FSW Obdach. Obdach Josi is a day center for adult homeless people that is open 365 days a year from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

“My thanks go to the employees of FSW Obdach and especially the employees of the day care center Obdach Josi. They create short-term space for the users of the Vienna Homeless Aid who are not already accommodated in other facilities at night and thus offer low-threshold security,” says Markus Hollendohner, head of the Vienna Homeless Aid in the FSW. “Further immediate measures in the current situation are currently being examined by the Vienna Social Fund and our partner organizations,” Hollendohner continues, referring once again to the good cooperation with the Vienna police.

“I strongly condemn attacks on homeless people, whether verbal or physical. Vienna is a city of cohesion and solidarity – especially towards the weakest. The current attacks will not change that,” said City Councilor Peter Hacker.

About FSW Shelter

FSW Obdach, a subsidiary of the Vienna Social Fund (FSW), is a pioneer in helping the homeless in Vienna with a wide range of innovative offers from street social work to mobile care in your own home. The non-profit GmbH was founded in 2005 and operates a total of over 20 facilities.