Caritas urges Austrian government to strengthen social welfare

Caritas Austria is calling on the government to take decisive action against poverty, particularly as rising heating costs threaten vulnerable populations during the approaching winter. Caritas President Nora Tödtling-Musenbichler warned that current proposed social welfare reforms could worsen the situation rather than closing gaps in the social safety net.

Tödtling-Musenbichler criticized planned cuts of up to 400 euros per person, labeling them ‘alarming’ and ‘unacceptable.’ She argued that the reform represents a critical opportunity to halve child poverty, but warned that the current legislative direction would fail to meet that goal. She advocated for poverty-proof social assistance and basic child support.

Additionally, Klaus Schwertner, Caritas Director for the Archdiocese of Vienna, called for a national action plan for affordable housing. He emphasized the need for transparent access criteria for social housing, an effective rent cap, and a social tariff for heating similar to existing electricity tariffs.