Many individuals who experience homelessness or housing insecurity in adulthood have their first encounter with housing instability in their youth or even during school years. International studies suggest that interventions and support measures implemented at this stage have a high potential for success and can effectively prevent homelessness later in life.
Currently, efforts to address homelessness predominantly focus on emergency assistance and long-term reintegration into the housing market. However, a shift towards preventive measures could not only alleviate future suffering but also reduce the strain and financial burden on existing emergency services and long-term housing support systems.
A key step in prevention at the school or youth level is the early identification of risk factors for potential homelessness directly among pupils. Detecting these risks in time allows for the implementation of targeted interventions and the activation of support networks that can help stabilize personal living and housing situations.
International projects, such as those implemented in Australia and Canada, have already demonstrated success over several years by conducting structured assessments to detect risks of imminent homelessness and by using the findings to prevent housing loss. Similar approaches are currently being implemented in parts of Europe, including Wales, Scotland, and Belgium. At present, there are no comparable initiatives in Austria aimed at the systematic detection and prevention of youth homelessness.
Funded by the Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG) and carried out in collaboration with the association [um]bruch:stelle, the project Upstream Austria aims to develop an online assessment tool to identify risk factors for impending homelessness among students in Austria.
This tool will be co-designed with secondary school teachers, social workers, formerly homeless individuals, students, as well as national and international experts. The goal is to create a tailor-made digital solution that can be applied across different Austrian regions and school types.
At the core of the online tool is the early detection of risk factors for housing instability, enabling targeted support for students in need. While the pject will not launch the tool nationwide during its development phase, the final version is intended to be made available to schools throughout Austria starting in spring 2027.
In the project’s initial phase, teachers, school experts, international researchers, and social workers from homeless support services will be interviewed about their attitudes and perspectives regarding the tool's design. Their input will actively inform the development process.
In the second phase, a preliminary version of the assessment tool will be reviewed and refined in collaboration with professional staff and students from upper secondary schools. Through multiple cycles of feedback and revision, the tool will be further developed and perfected.
In autumn 2026, the assessment tool will be tested in selected schools across Austria. Its effectiveness and accuracy in identifying at-risk students will be thoroughly evaluated. Feedback from teachers and students regarding its usability in daily school life will guide final adjustments.
The outcome of this process will be a robust, practical, and effective online assessment tool that schools across Austria can use to identify students at risk of homelessness — a vital step toward prevention and early intervention.
1.9.2025 - 28.2.2027
This project is funded by the Österreichischen Forschungsförderungsgesellschaft FFG
