The Destigmatisation of Social Housing in Vienna
At a time when living costs are on the rise, Vienna, Austria, is showing itself to be a model for social housing and integration.
Currently, approximately 60% of people in Vienna live in government-owned or subsidised housing called Gemeindebau. These residences—well-constructed and of unique architecture—are often Brutalist in style with an ecological design. Within these monumental complexes, there are indoor swimming pools, nurseries, schools, tennis courts, and play spaces, which give residents dignity and an excellent quality of life.
To qualify to live in one of these flats, individuals must be a minimum of 18 years old; have been a resident in Vienna two years prior to application; possess Austrian citizenship; and have an income below a defined threshold—if you start earning beyond this minimum, there is no requirement to leave your accommodation. In addition, the flats have capped rent around €440 per month. Establishing a capped rate for rent in the Gemeindebau has also allowed private flats in the city to be listed on the market for reasonable prices. Vienna now contains 220,000 municipal flats and around 200,000 subsidised dwellings run by non-profit organisations. These numbers keep growing as the building of Gemeindebau continues, driven by the recognition of housing as a basic human right.
The history of these projects goes back to ‘Red Vienna’, a 16-year period when the elected Austrian Social Democratic Workers’ Party rebuilt the nation's welfare state following the First World War. At the time, Austria had no money, which led to its citizens experiencing astronomical rates of unemployment, hunger, severe health problems, overcrowding, and high rent prices. As Vienna was declared both a city and a province in 1922, Vienna had control over its own taxes, which allowed for more freedom regarding public spending. Therefore, the municipal government issued a controversial policy of aggressive taxation in 1923 to raise money for social housing. The policy, in essence, would allow Vienna to buy land and properties during this time of post-war inflation. Thus, by 1923, the government became the biggest property owner in the city.
New buildings were designed to be indistinguishable from bourgeois dwellings in an effort to blend in with the rest of the city. Today, architects are encouraged to experiment with designs and are guided by the motto “fresh air, light, and sunshine” and demonstrate their progressive ideas through the prioritisation of open courtyards, greenery, and grand arched entrances. Building complexes are often named after socialist heroes as an homage to the left-wing ‘Red Vienna’, with Karl-Marx-Hof among the most notable, extending over 1.2 km.
What began as an experimental welfare project has been a triumph in removing stigma surrounding social housing. Accommodation being built across all 23 districts of Vienna has avoided the creation of ghettos, leading to a smooth integration and inhabitants not being defined or judged by where they live. The qualification criteria means that the housing is not restricted to only the lower classes but stands to benefit the middle classes too. An array of residents help generate a healthy social mix and tolerant atmosphere within the Gemeindebau. Municipal housing also plays an important role in creating jobs, such as having physicians, doctors, caretakers, and cleaners on site. These factors all have a positive impact on mental health, as they give residents various opportunities for social interaction. Moreover, people know that they are being cared for and don't have to stress about the possibility of being evicted if a landlord wants to sell the house or use it for themselves—unlike in the case of renting privately.
Viewing housing as a basic human right is certainly a lesson that can be learnt globally. Vienna's approach contrasts sharply with that of countries like Ireland, where housing is a heated political issue. Currently, Ireland is seeing a severe shortage of rental properties and people being priced out of their hometowns and cities. There is also a notable trend of young professionals emigrating to places like Australia in search of better living standards. Dublin housing prices are now higher than those of London and have become simply unliveable, with the average rent hitting a devastating €2,300 per month. Unfortunately, this is becoming the status quo in other Irish cities such as Cork and Galway too. With a record 11,600 people now homeless in Ireland, including almost 3,500 children, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar would do well to take notes from the First Austrian Republic.
To be able to say that first-rate social housing is the norm for people across a range of socio-economic backgrounds is both radical and wonderful. Therefore, it's no surprise that Vienna was declared the most liveable city in the world for 2022, with its holistic view of housing successfully combining quality with affordability as a demonstration of human dignity and respect.
Image Courtesy of Stefan Fadinger via Flickr, © 2017 some rights reserved.
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the wider St Andrews Foreign Affairs Review team.
