The Austrian National Council has unanimously voted to extend the “Wohnschirm” housing support program through 2029, securing annual funding to prevent homelessness and assist vulnerable households.
Key Details
- The program will receive 28 million euros annually from 2027 to 2029, as confirmed by the Social Affairs Committee.
- An additional 15 million euros per year is allocated for school starter aid, providing 150-euro vouchers twice yearly to approximately 50,000 students from low-income households.
- The extension was approved by all parliamentary factions during a Social Affairs Committee meeting on April 15, 2026.
- The measure aims specifically to prevent evictions and housing loss by covering rental arrears and facilitating housing transitions.
Originally introduced as a temporary response to rising living costs, the Wohnschirm has become a sustained effort by the federal Social Ministry to complement state-level social housing initiatives. The program’s continuation reflects broad political consensus on addressing housing insecurity, with ÖVP and NEOS emphasizing its limited-time nature despite the multi-year extension.
In related decisions, the National Council similarly expanded oversight authority for the Social Insurance Institution of the Self-Employed, enabling it to alert decision-makers when care assessments suggest potential under-support for beneficiaries.
The school starter aid component, delivered via gift cards or prepaid cards for educational supplies, will continue unchanged, supporting roughly 50,000 children twice each year.
