Exchange of experiences on services for people affected by poverty in Austria

A study visit was carried out in Austria, in the period of June 9 -12, 2025 within the project “Strengthening Health, Access, Participation and Social Equity in the Western Balkan Countries”, funded by the Austrian Federal Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection and implemented in cooperation and with the support of the Austrian Red Cross.

The visit was conducted by representatives of the Red Cross of the Republic of North Macedonia, the City Red Cross of Skopje, and the Ministry of Social Policy, Demography and Youth, who are directly implementing programs supporting homeless individuals and people at social risk of homelessness.

The visit took place in Vienna, with the support of representatives from the Austrian Red Cross, aimed to familiarize participants with the functioning of various institutions that work with homeless individuals and people at social risk of homelessness.

During the visit, meetings were held with organizations and institutions that provide emergency assistance, accommodation, psycho-social support, resocialization, and reintegration programs for homeless individuals into society. Special emphasis was placed on learning about the Austrian social system, funding mechanisms, intersectoral cooperation, and the role of civil society organizations in providing social services for homeless persons.

The experiences and knowledge gained from this visit will contribute to improving existing programs and creating new solutions to support vulnerable groups in the Republic of North Macedonia, especially the homeless and those at risk of social exclusion.