The WU Competence Center for Nonprofit Organizations has carried out several studies to examine the impact of eviction prevention measures. One of the studies was based on a social return on investment (SROI) analysis. The goal? Finding out if eviction prevention efforts pay off. To do this, the researchers collected data, ran scenarios, and held numerous interviews. The key question was: Are measures for preventing evictions worth the cost? The answer came quickly, and it was very clear: Every euro invested in measures for preventing evictions generates €94 of social added value.

One of the examples that illustrate this added value is the Fachstelle für Wohnungssicherung (FAWOS) eviction prevention services center, run by the Volkshilfe Wien welfare organization. This program saves money, because it helps people to hang on to their homes, so the government doesn’t have to shoulder the substantial follow-up costs of evictions, such as expenses for emergency housing and social assistance services. But the benefits don’t stop there. People can keep their place of residence, which means the center of their life routines remains intact, and children don’t have to change to a different kindergarten or school.

This also proved to be extremely important during the COVID-19 crisis, when many people lost part of their income and were at risk of losing their homes as well. Subsidized programs such as the Austrian Ministry of Social Affairs’ Wohnschirm initiative helped prevent the worst. This program supports people who have fallen behind on their rent payments as a result of the COVID-19 crisis or the recent cost-of-living crisis. It was set up in close collaboration with social support organizations and focuses on preventing evictions. The results so far clearly show that the program has been successful in helping many people hang on to their homes and stabilize their financial situation with lasting effects.

The studies carried out at WU provide scientific evidence that confirms the value of eviction prevention programs like these. Based on solid data, the researchers were able to quantify how valuable secure housing is in enabling social participation and reducing follow-up costs. This has changed the way social assistance programs are perceived, by showing that eviction prevention not only makes humanitarian sense, it also makes economic sense.