Support in Vienna
A practical guide to financial help, healthcare, legal advice, housing, migrant advice and safety support in Vienna, with support funds for artists in Austria.
Last checked: 28 October 2026. Check current opening times, eligibility and availability with each service.
The 18-page guide is in CYON FLEX’s handwriting, with clickable official links. Save, print or share it.
Money and financial hardship
Caritas Wien Sozialberatung — Advice about financial hardship, benefits and possible emergency assistance. Ask which service fits your circumstances. sozialberatung-wien@caritas-wien.at. Official information.
Volkshilfe Wien Sozialberatung — Free advice for social or financial difficulties, including suitable support and food assistance. sozialberatung@volkshilfe-wien.at. Official information.
Austrian Red Cross: Individuelle Spontanhilfe — Advice and possible one-off financial or material help in an acute emergency, assessed individually. spontanhilfe@roteskreuz.at. Official information.
City of Vienna MA40: Hilfe in besonderen Lebenslagen — Advice and possible one-off assistance in exceptional hardship. Residence and other conditions apply. servicestelle@ma40.wien.gv.at. Official information.
Support funds for artists
KSVF Unterstützungsfonds — A hardship fund for artists facing particular emergencies, separate from the social-insurance contribution subsidy. help@ksvf.at. Official information.
AQUAS / SKE — Social support for eligible AKM and/or austro mechana rights holders, including emergencies, hardship and social-insurance costs. Generally at least five years as a rights holder is required; check current rules. Official information.
Peter Herz-Fonds für rasche Hilfe — One-time financial assistance for AKM and austro mechana rights holders facing hardship, including serious illness or acute financial need. Separate from AQUAS. Official information.
Healthcare and medication
Medical emergency: 144. For life-threatening situations, unconsciousness, severe breathing difficulty or serious accidents, call and follow the dispatcher’s instructions.
Finding medical care — Contact your usual doctor for assessment, ongoing care and prescriptions. Health advice: 1450, day and night. Vienna out-of-hours GP service: 141, weeknights 19:00–07:00, weekends and public holidays. Official information.
Medication costs — Tell your doctor or pharmacist if cost prevents you getting prescribed medicine. Ask your insurer about Rezeptgebührenbefreiung (prescription-fee exemption) and any applicable cost-sharing exemption. Keep prescriptions and receipts. Official information.
AmberMed — Free outpatient medical care, medication assistance and social advice for uninsured people living in Austria on an ongoing basis. Check opening times. amber@diakonie.at; 01 589 00 847. Official information.
neunerhaus Gesundheitszentrum — Free medical care, nursing and support, including without insurance. General medical care needs no appointment or referral; dental care needs an appointment. arztpraxis@neunerhaus.at; 01 990 09 09 500. Official information.
TA-VOX Wien — Free, confidential advice about hearing loss, hearing aids, funding and related applications. Arrange an appointment in advance; written contact is recommended. office@ta-vox.at; Sperrgasse 8–10, Vienna. Official information.
Legal advice and police questioning
Questioned by police? — Ask whether you are a suspect or witness: the rules differ. Suspects have the right to a lawyer and to remain silent about the allegation; legal identity-detail obligations still apply. Official information.
Verteidigernotruf: 0800 376 386 — Defence lawyer helpline for arrested suspects, available around the clock across Austria. The first call and initial telephone advice are free; further representation usually costs money. Ask about fees and legal aid, and to notify a lawyer and a trusted person. Official information.
Language and communication — In criminal proceedings, suspects who do not understand the language have a right to interpretation. Explain any communication needs, including hearing loss. Read interview records and ask for errors to be corrected before signing. Official information.
Letters, deadlines and first legal consultation — Keep every page and the envelope, note delivery details and check response deadlines and appointments. Asking for help by email does not automatically pause a deadline. Regional Bar Associations offer free first orientation (Erste Anwaltliche Auskunft); check Vienna booking requirements. Official information.
Verfahrenshilfe: legal aid — Apply to the responsible court. Eligibility depends on finances and the case. Criminal defence appointments have legal conditions. In civil cases, aid does not cover costs owed to the other side if you lose; repayment may be required if finances improve within three years after the case ends. Official information.
Housing and tenancy
Mein Wien-Apartment — Furnished accommodation for people in transitional or difficult housing situations. Ask about eligibility, costs and availability. Official information.
Wohnberatung Wien — Advice about municipal and subsidised housing, the Wiener Wohn-Ticket and eligibility. Personal consultations require an appointment. 01 24 111. Official information.
wohnpartner — Free support for residents of Vienna municipal housing, including neighbourhood conflicts, forms and benefit applications. Official information.
MieterHilfe — Free advice about rent, tenancy agreements, deposits and other housing-law questions. 01 4000 8000. Official information.
Migrant advice, LGBTQ refugees and racism
Integrationshaus — Free multilingual counselling about applications, official letters, housing, health, work and education. Its funded counselling service supports asylum seekers and refugees in basic care; contact the team to check eligibility. journaldienst@integrationshaus.at. Official information.
Queer Base — Support for LGBTQ people who have fled to Austria, including asylum-related legal advice, social counselling and community connections. asylum@queerbase.at. Official information.
ZARA — Free, confidential legal and psychosocial advice about racism and online hate. beratung@zara.or.at. Official information.
Violence, safety and personal crises
Gewaltschutzzentrum Wien — Counselling, legal information and practical support for domestic violence or stalking, regardless of gender, age or nationality. Arrange personal appointments. 01 585 32 88; Mariahilfer Straße 116, 1070 Vienna. Official information.
Wiener Frauenhäuser — Safe accommodation and support for women and their children escaping violence. Call about protection and available places: 05 77 22, 24 hours. Official information.
Kriseninterventionszentrum — Professional support with acute personal crises. Initial appointments are arranged by telephone; telephone and online counselling are also available. Official information.