The association
Since 1978, the Vienna Women’s Shelters have been providing protection, safety, and support for women and children affected by violence. Our goal is to offer women in crisis situations a protected space where they can find peace, develop new perspectives, and shape their own path toward a life free from violence.
Our services include safe accommodation, psychosocial counseling, crisis intervention, legal advice, and support and accompaniment in dealing with authorities. Furthermore, we support women in developing new life perspectives and all related concerns, empowering them on their journey toward a life free from violence.
The staff at the Vienna Women’s Shelters are trained in the psychosocial field, possess many years of experience, and work in a confidential, appreciative, and resource-oriented manner. The needs and decisions of the women are always at the center of our work.
The Vienna Women’s Shelters are more than just a safe space. We actively advocate for women’s rights, make violence visible, and are committed to a society in which women and children can live safely. Because every woman has the right to a life free from violence.
Funding
The Vienna Women’s Shelters are funded by the City of Vienna, represented by the Vienna Women’s Service (MA 57) within the department of City Councilor for Women Elke Hanel-Torsch.
As a family counseling center, the Counseling Center for Women also receives a subsidy from the Federal Chancellery, Section VI – Family and Youth, Department 4/a – Family Counseling and Family Promotion.
Psychosocial and legal court support is funded by the Federal Ministry of Justice.
The “Clarification Talks” project is funded by the Federal Ministry for Women, Science, and Research.
The “Perspektive:Arbeit” (Perspective:Work) counseling center is funded by AMS Vienna.
History
The Association of Vienna Women’s Shelters was founded in 1978. An overview of the association’s history and the most significant political changes is provided here.
2026
The Vienna Women’s Shelters launch a new branding and a new website with a focus on accessibility.
2024
The handbook on dealing with violence in the context of custody and contact rights is published by the Federal Ministry of Justice. This provides a guideline for judges on how to handle violence in civil proceedings.
2023
The 3rd Vienna Women’s Shelter is repurposed into a shelter for young women. Here, women between the ages of 16 and 25 receive support and counseling tailored to the needs of this target group.
2022
The 5th Vienna Women’s Shelter opens. In total, the association now provides 114 places for women and 114 places for children.
The “Perspektive:Arbeit” counseling center opens. Here, women affected by violence receive support for (re-)entering the workforce.
2019
Protective measures under the Protection Against Violence Act are expanded. A comprehensive restraining order is introduced.
2018
The Vienna Women’s Shelters celebrate their 50th anniversary. As part of the celebrations, there is an exhibition on their history at the Volkskundemuseum.
2017
The association’s counseling center expands its services to include specific advice on the topic of cyber violence and acquires targeted expert knowledge to offer affected women the best possible support – in psychosocial counseling as well as in legal advice and court support.
2016
The conference proceedings “Damaged Soul,” featuring current contributions from research and practice as well as interdisciplinary exchange to improve the situation of mentally ill women affected by violence and their children, is published.
2014
Together with the City of Vienna’s Health Commissioner, Beate Wimmer-Puchinger, and the Karmasin Institute, a study on psychological violence is conducted. Additionally, the conference report “Without me you are nothing – Psychological violence in the family” is published on the occasion of the conference for the 35th anniversary of the Association of Vienna Women’s Shelters.
The association’s counseling center moves to the 12th district. The new location offers accessible premises.
2013
On the occasion of the association’s 35th anniversary, the topic of “psychological violence” is addressed, and a specialist conference is held on the subject.
2012
After nearly 30 years, the historically second Vienna Women’s Shelter, which was in need of renovation, moves to a new building.
2011
The Association of Vienna Women’s Shelters conducts a study on “Sexualized Violence Against Women” with Elfriede Fröschl. The results show that many women affected by physical and psychological violence have also experienced sexualized violence (62% of shelter residents), but rarely speak about it. The study is presented at the specialist conference “… your own fault!?”, organized together with the City of Vienna’s Women’s Emergency Hotline.
Austria signs the Istanbul Convention, an EU-wide agreement to combat violence against women.
2008
The association celebrates its 30th anniversary and organizes the specialist conference “30 Years of Women’s Shelters: Protection for Women, Protection for Children”; additionally, the book “In the beginning I was very much in love” by Karin Berger and Andrea Brem is presented at the National Library.
2006
The transitional housing area is further expanded and receives its own team of support staff.
2005
The central emergency hotline for the Vienna Women’s Shelters is established. It can be reached 24/7 at 05 77 22 and centrally manages admissions to a women’s shelter.
2002
Due to the high occupancy of the women’s shelters, the 4th Vienna Women’s Shelter is opened.
The first Vienna Women’s Shelter moves to larger premises.
1999
The transitional housing area is expanded by renting a transitional residential building.
The counseling center is enlarged and moves to larger, centrally located premises.
1997
Through multi-institutional cooperation, the Protection Against Violence Act is developed, which comes into force in 1997. This allows victims of domestic violence to remain in their familiar surroundings, while the violent person must leave the shared apartment. Intervention centers (now Protection Against Violence Centers) are set up to support victims.
1996
The third Vienna Women’s Shelter is opened. In addition, the Vienna Women’s Shelters intensify cooperation and training for other professional groups, such as the health sector and educators.
1993
The Vienna Women’s Shelters rent apartments for women who are no longer acutely affected by violence but still need psychosocial support. The transitional housing area is established.
1992
In addition to working with the women and children living in the shelter, there are many outpatient and telephone consultations for women who are affected by violence but do not require protection in a women’s shelter. To provide adequate support for this target group, the Counseling Center for Women is founded.
1989
Cooperation with the police is expanded through violence protection training for police recruits. The training sessions are conducted by staff from the Vienna Women’s Shelters.
1980
Due to high demand, the second Vienna Women’s Shelter is opened. At that time, there were no women’s shelters in the other federal states.
1978
The Association of Vienna Women’s Shelters is founded, and Austria’s first women’s shelter opens in Vienna. This was initiated by a group of students from the Social Academy. They were supported by politicians Johanna Dohnal and Irmtraut Karlsson.