From €3,000 to €1,285: Syrian Family Faces Collapse in Vienna
A Syrian family of six in Vienna has lost most of its monthly income after welfare rules changed, dropping from about 3,000 euros to just 1,285 euros. The sudden cut has left them unable to cover rent and basic living costs.
The family, led by أحمد أ., holds subsidiary protection status, meaning they can work but only stay temporarily. Under Vienna’s new austerity measures, people with this status no longer receive minimum income and are instead moved to basic care, which provides far less financial support.
Their apartment rent alone is over 1,100 euros, leaving almost nothing for food, energy, or medical expenses. The family has asked their landlord for more time and is now searching for cheaper housing with the help of aid organizations, but options are extremely limited.
The situation is especially difficult because one of the children has a severe autism spectrum disorder and requires stability and privacy. Experts such as يوديت كولنبرغر warn that losing stable housing harms integration, education, and access to work, and can push families into deeper dependency.
Vienna argues the reform will save about 200 million euros and insists that everyone entitled to basic care will be accommodated. However, Caritas expert ديفيد بريوكشات-هيمر says available places are already limited. In a letter, أحمد أ. describes his family’s condition as an “acute humanitarian crisis” and hopes Austria will uphold its values of social justice and human rights.