It takes a village to raise a child
14 April 2025
Single parents carry the load, yet they're often invisible in Europe's housing plans. In Austria, nearly 44% of them live in poverty, compared with just 15% of the general population. Here, JUNO steps in, a Vienna-based organisation founded by single mothers. Their motto: as many rooms as possible in as little space as necessary.
Thanks to Vienna's subsidised housing program, buildings get public funding if they cap rents and set aside units for single parents. JUNO has already placed more than 160 families in homes that don't just come with low rent but with neighbours "who get it".
In these houses, parents regularly swap childcare, cook together, and support each other emotionally. The initiative also offers peer counseling and workshops, building a community support system to ease the (mental) load.
JUNO could serve as a blueprint for tackling one of Europe's fastest-growing social challenges, by blending affordable housing with built-in community support. Demand is soaring, especially in cities where rents are rising, poverty is climbing, and policymakers are starting to prioritise social inclusion.
 | Claudia Tschabuschnig Yet, Vienna's integrated approach stands out. While Germany, the Netherlands, France, and Sweden have pockets of co-housing innovation, systemic support and nationwide subsidies are still the exception, not the rule. While not personally affected, a good friend of mine is a single mom, and she'd love to team up with another solo mom or bestie to live together. In my circle, especially among those with or wanting kids, there's this quiet dream of building a village right here in the city. |
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