Up to 1/6 chhildren, youth in Austria at risk of poverty

In Austria, some one sixth of children and youths up to 19 years of age are currently at poverty risk, Austrian charity organization People's Aid said at a presentation on child poverty Wednesday. The presentation was made ahead of International Day for the Eradication of Poverty on Thursday. People's Aid called on Austria's next government, following recent elections, to make the fight against child poverty a main principle. A study revealed at the presentation by People's Aid Austria National Director Erich Fenninger claimed that 15 percent of children and youths in the country are at poverty risk. One in four children could not go on vacation due to this, and one in ten could not invite friends to their home due to poor living conditions. The situation in the nation's capital Vienna is particularly bad, with 28 percent of children and youths at poverty risk. Also, single-parent households, large households, and children of immigrant families face higher risk of poverty and social exclusion. Family cohesion also suffers in poorer families compared to those where money is less of an object, Fenninger said. "Austria has catching up to do in terms of perception of children's needs," he said, calling on the government to implement measures such as an increase in minimum guaranteed income and an increase in the financial aid budget for children and youths.