Neighbourhood parents

Currently 16 women and men are acting as ‘neighbourhood parents’ in the southern area of the Westgürtel (the western section of the ‘belt’ ring road in Vienna). They themselves reside locally and visit their neighbours with difficult living circumstances. Collectively, they speak 25 languages, are between 25 and 65 years old, have widely varying life histories, are specially trained, receive an expense allowance, give practical tips about living or refer those concerned to professional contact centres. Information is often lacking or help seems socially too far removed, but everything is easier with the help of someone from'next door'.