On May 5, GG members and students from the “Street Medicine” elective organized by Igor and Tobi at the Medical University of Vienna visited the Chancenhaus Obdach Wurlitzergasse, an institution of the Fonds Soziales Wien Obdach.
The visit allowed our team to gain first-hand insights into the intersection of social services and healthcare for people experiencing homelessness in Vienna. A key focus was the facility’s low-threshold approach: providing temporary housing for adults and couples experiencing homelessness, including those who do not yet have official funding approval. This ensures that individuals have a safe, supervised place to stay while their social and legal status is being clarified.
During the visit, we discussed how immediate stability allows residents to develop new life perspectives from the very first day. For our students, this marked an important step in understanding the Social and Structural Determinants of Health and how medical care must be grounded in empathy and low-barrier social support.
The excursion was highly insightful and strengthened our commitment to incorporating social responsibility into medical education. It highlighted the vital role that such community-informed facilities play in the recovery and dignity of marginalized groups.
