Europe: Apropos

(Salzburg, Austria)

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Austria has an official at-risk-of-poverty rate of 13%. According to the estimates of the Austrian umbrella organisation for housing organisations there are between 1,000 and 2,000 homeless people in Austria and an additional 19,000 people living in shelters for the homeless or refugees. In 2002 more than 80,000 people were in danger of being evicted because they could not pay their rent.

What was the impetus for establishing your street paper?

Although Salzburg is a rich city, there has always been homelessness. Officially 700 people are living in shelters or are homeless, but experts estimate the real number is twice as high. Our organisation 'Soziale Arbeit Gmbh' has been working in the field of homelessness for over 15 years now. In 1997 they felt the need to create a street paper to encourage people to help themselves. At this time there were already 3 street papers existing in Austria: Augustin (Vienna), Megaphon (Graz) and Kupfermuckn (Linz). Now there are 6 street papers in Austria with the addition of Zwanzger (Innsbruck) and Eibischzuckerl (Wiener Neustadt).

What impact has your street paper had?

Until now more than 500 vendors have sold the paper and many of them have written articles for Apropos. The majority of people have gained more stable lives, personally developed, regained self-confidence and established their own social networks around their pitches. Many are now living in flats. A few have found new jobs.      

Due to their public presence, they have gradually changed the public perception and opinion about poverty and homelessness. In the early years,  some people felt disturbed and provoked by their visibility.  Now the Apropos-vendors are highly esteemed, accepted and belong to the town.

What influence has your country's social/ economic/political situation had on your street paper?

Homelessness in Austria is not as visible as in other countries - but it exists. Since the beginning we have received financial support from the local government as they see our engagement as crucial for reintegration into society.

Poverty and homelessness are popular topics in the mainstream media during the Christmas period, but for the rest of the year the coverage is quite poor. Apropos tries to raise awareness with professional articles written by journalists and authentic texts written by many vendors and other marginalised authors.  This approach is highly appreciated by our readership.

What direction do you see your street paper taking over the next five years?

Like every street-paper we want to increase our sales, our readership and encourage a greater understanding about the needs of socially excluded people. We also want our vendors to become more stable.