Austrian housing and energy support programs

Austria has extended its Housing Support Network (Wohnschirm) program through the end of 2029. Supported by an annual budget of 28 million euros, the initiative is designed to protect vulnerable households from eviction.

Since its implementation in March 2022, the rent assistance component has approved 18,736 applications. Of these, 17,086 were for securing current housing, while 1,650 were for relocation assistance. Data from the Ministry of Social Affairs indicates that 44% of these households include children and 45% are headed by single parents, with women representing 53% of the supported adults.

The program also includes an energy protection pillar, which has approved 33,599 applications since January 2023, benefiting 90,827 individuals to prevent the shut-off of essential services like electricity and gas. Additionally, the ‘Housing First’ initiative has helped 1,815 homeless individuals secure permanent housing.

These measures come as the country experiences shifting economic indicators; while annual inflation fell to 2.8% in July 2026, certain costs such as fuel and E-Card fees have seen significant increases.