According to the department, the living umbrella of the Ministry of Social Affairs, which is intended to prevent evictions and also help with high energy bills, has paid out 15 million euros in support services. “To date, more than 5,000 applications have already been approved, supporting more than 13,000 people,” the department reported today in a broadcast. The rental umbrella was launched in March 2022 and expanded to include energy in January of this year.
Since it was launched, Wohnschirm has taken over rent arrears for 3,003 families with 7,702 people. They were able to keep their existing apartment. 388 households were helped to move to a cheaper apartment. A total of over 10.8 million euros has already been paid in support services.
Extended due to high energy prices
Due to the high energy prices, the offer was expanded in January 2023 to include the energy living umbrella: since then, 2,173 households with 5,532 people have received support for electricity or heating costs. A total of over four million euros have been paid out to people on low incomes since January.
1,565 households received both a lump sum for future energy costs and support for energy cost arrears. A further 593 households received a lump sum for future energy costs, and 15 households had their energy cost arrears covered.
At the end of March, the living umbrella was increased by 25 million, so 165 million euros would now be available for it, said Social Affairs Minister Johannes Rauch (Greens) at the time. The budget is part of the 250 million euros in housing aid that the coalition has agreed on as an alternative to the rental price brake rejected by the ÖVP and called for by the Greens.
