There appears to be no alternative to this measure, although it is a sign of poverty for a metropolis like Vienna: as the police cannot explain three knife attacks on homeless people in the past four weeks and the perpetrator is still roaming free Yes, responds the Vienna Social Fund (FSW). For the safety of the homeless, the city is now opening its day center “Josie” at night as well.
The housing below the U6 station Josefstädter Straße provides space for 50 homeless people. It is usually open from 9 am to 6 pm. “Currently, groups of homeless people, who have been attacked on a large scale in recent days, need quick support against physical attacks,” said Peter Hacker (SPO), City Councilor for Social Affairs. That’s why “Josie” will now be open in the evening and night as well. “For us, this is an unprecedented situation in terms of homeless support, having to open day centers at night,” says FSW shelter manager Barbara Trasek. Further measures to protect the homeless are currently being investigated.
As eXXpress reports, three homeless people were recently fatally attacked. On 12 July, a homeless person (569) was found dead on Handelscheid in Brigittenau. There were multiple stab and cut wounds on his body. Ten days later, a homeless woman (51) was found stabbed to death in Praterstern in Vienna-Leopoldstadt at around 3:40 am. In the morning she survived, just like the victim of a previous attack on Wednesday night, a homeless man with serious bruises and stab wounds was found on Hernalser Gürtel in Josefstadt.
