VinziRast-mittendrin, an inclusive social housing and community integration project in Vienna

Ben Schmidt on 15 October 2025

A pioneering project that combines housing, employment, and education for formerly homeless individuals and students

VinziRast-mittendrin is an innovative social housing project in Vienna, established in 2013, that brings together formerly homeless individuals and university students in a shared living environment. The community is intentionally diverse, encompassing people from different life paths, cultural backgrounds, and age groups. This inclusive setting fosters trust, social integration, and personal development. The facility houses 26 residents across ten shared apartments, with two to three people per unit. Each apartment provides private bedrooms for personal retreat, while communal areas such as kitchens, living rooms, workshops, and a rooftop terrace offer spaces for social interaction and skill-building.

The project also incorporates an integrative gastronomic initiative, the VinziRast-Lokal mittendrin, where formerly homeless residents gain permanent employment and professional experience in the kitchen and service. They are supported by both staff and volunteers, and the menu emphasizes vegetarian and vegan dishes that reflect the cultural diversity of the team. Additional programs include VinziRast-Chance, which provides vocational training and language courses for people in the asylum process, and VinziRast am Land, a rural community project combining agricultural work with social integration.

VinziRast-mittendrin thrives on volunteer support and donations. Overall, the project emphasizes community living as a path to healing, empowerment, and social participation.

Characteristics of innovation

Adolescence and youth, Bank of innovations, Fully inclusive cities, Homelessness and the right to housing, Immigration, Link with the community, New model of intervention, New service, Poverty and exclusion, Self-management and participation, User empowerment

Location

Àustria

Partners/ Founders

VinziRast Vienna, Volunteers and individual donors, Support from local organizations and partners

Genesis

VinziRast-mittendrin was created in 2013 by VinziRast Vienna to integrate formerly homeless individuals and students into a supportive, communal living environment. The project was designed to promote social inclusion, psychological healing, and personal development through shared daily life.

Implementation level

The project provides housing for 26 residents in ten shared apartments. Other initiatives with a similar approach, such as VinziRast-Chance and VinziRast am Land have been created. Strong volunteer engagement and positive social and psychological outcomes among residents demonstrate the project’s lasting success and impact.

More information

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