6.1 Tenant empowerment

6. Projects from the Community-building pillar

An information session with a large projection screen in the background, with people seated in front of it. Some are standing at the edge of the room.

Fig. 43: Outreach events jointly organised with the Mieterhilfe tenants' advice centre provide tenants in the Grätzl 20+2 programme area with face-to-face objective information. © City of Vienna/Bojan Schnabl

Particularly for socially disadvantaged groups, however, access to safe, affordable housing is often associated with a number of challenges and obstacles.

WieNeu+ therefore decided to place the spotlight on tenants' rights. The aim was to provide local residents with timely preventive support to learn more about their rights as tenants and how to assert them. For this purpose, outreach events were jointly organised with suitable partners who already have close links to the target groups. Working with the Mieterhilfe advice centre and the Municipal Department for Integration and Diversity (MA 17) ensured the delivery of comprehensive advice and support targeted at vulnerable and socio-economically disadvantaged households.

The long-term aim is to ensure a good social mix in residential areas, facilitate participation in city life and foster social cohesion.

Takeaways & challenges

Interest in preventive information is limited – in many cases the issue only becomes relevant when tenants are directly affected.
Cooperation with existing organisations that are already involved in activities with the target groups proved to be useful.

Project partners

Mieterhilfe (City of Vienna tenants' advice centre)
Local Area Renewal Office (GB*Mitte)
Stadt Wien – Municipal Department for Integration and Diversity (MA 17)