Refuge for women

New shelters for victims of domestic violence

A total of 17 new temporary homes for women and children are to be created in Lower Austria by the end of the year to provide victims of domestic violence with shelter for up to twelve months. 

It is a milestone in the fight against violence against women. With the creation of 17 new temporary homes in Lower Austria, the long-awaited and anticipated so-called Istanbul Convention has also been achieved. This includes measures to raise awareness, the creation of adequate support facilities, the prosecution of acts of violence and support for victims. A total of 2.26 million euros will be invested by 2027.

Provincial Councillor Ulrike Königsberger-Ludwig and Elisabeth Cinatl, Managing Director of the Wendepunkt association and board member of the network of Austrian women's and girls' advice centers.(Bild: NLK Filzwieser)

In addition to six women's shelters with 145 places (58 for women and 87 for children), this will create 34 additional places. "Our goal is to have all 17 transitional homes in the districts of Amstetten, Mistelbach, Mödling, Neunkirchen, St. Pölten and Wiener Neustadt, Gänserndorf, Hollabrunn, Krems, Tulln and Zwettl up and running by the end of 2024," explains Provincial Councillor Ulrike Königsberger-Ludwig.

A total of 34 additional places
Women and children can find shelter here for up to twelve months with appropriate safety concepts - with at least four hours of counseling and care per week. This means that, for the first time, appropriate shelter places are available in the Waldviertel, for example, but also in the districts of Gänserndorf, Hollabrunn, Krems and Tulln.