Soziales Wohnservice Wels

What Soziales Wohnservice Wels does

Soziales Wohnservice Wels (SWS), formally Verein Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Beratung und Betreuung Wohnungsloser in Wels, is a non-profit association (gemeinnütziger Verein) founded in 1989 in Wels, Upper Austria, delivering an integrated portfolio of housing and social support services for people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. The core service offering spans five interconnected programs: the Tageszentrum (day center) at Salzburgerstraße 46, which provides low-threshold access including free breakfast, a symbolic €1 lunch, hygiene and laundry facilities, internet access, and counseling; the Notschlafstelle (emergency shelter) at Eisenhowerstraße 37, which provides short-term overnight accommodation with professional social work support; the Wohnhaus (residential home), offering 15 long-term places for adults needing ongoing support; the Übergangswohnen (transitional housing) with 17 self-contained apartments plus a 4-place women's community with children; and the Wohnen für Frauen program for women in crisis situations. Supplementary programs include Social Cooking (corporate and community group meal preparation), Social Shopping (in-store donation collection), the Kupfermuckn street newspaper (income-generation for affected individuals), and the TIPIDAU guide (directory of social contact points). Operations run 365 days per year from two physical sites in Wels.

The organization's revenue model is structurally a state grant relationship: it is financed principally through the Social Division of the State of Upper Austria (Sozialabteilung des Landes OÖ), with only nominal and explicitly "symbolic" user fees (€1 day-center lunch, nightly shelter fee, residential usage-and-care contribution) and material donations through community programs. There is no commercial revenue, no fee-for-service pricing, no venture or private equity capital, and no app or digital product. Distribution is exclusively direct, in-person service delivery at the organization's two physical locations, with beneficiary acquisition driven by self-referral and referrals from a network of 20+ partner organizations including Caritas Oberösterreich, Volkshilfe Wels, AMS Wels, Magistrat der Stadt Wels, Österreichische Gesundheitskasse, Welser Heimstätte, BAWO, and Klinikum Wels-Grieskirchen. The organization is governed by a board chaired by Petra Wimmer, with Bettina Reichhold serving as Managing Director.

Name

Soziales Wohnservice Wels

Legal name

Soziales Wohnservice Wels - Verein Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Beratung und Betreuung Wohnungsloser in Wels

Website

https://sws-wels.at

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Soziales Wohnservice Wels is a non-profit association founded in 1989 in Wels, Austria, providing integrated housing and social support services — day center, emergency shelter, residential home, transitional housing, and women's accommodation — for homeless and at-risk individuals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Homeless and Social Services

NAICS

Community Housing Services (62422), Temporary Shelters (624221)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Housing Assistance & Homeless Services (BPAGAEAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Homelessness Prevention, Shelter & Supportive Housing Services (BPAIANAC)

Keywords

• Homeless services
• Emergency shelter
• Transitional housing
• Social counseling
• Supported housing

Headquarters

HQ city

Wels

HQ country

Austria

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Public Funding: As a non-profit association (gemeinnütziger Verein), the organization is financed through the Social Division of the State of Upper Austria (Sozialabteilung des Landes OÖ). This constitutes the primary funding source for all operational activities and services.
2. Client Fees: Modest user fees are collected for certain services including overnight accommodation at the emergency shelter (Notschlafstelle) and residential housing (Wohnhaus). The day center charges a symbolic €1 for lunch.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Soziales Wohnservice Wels operates an integrated portfolio of housing and social support services for homeless and at-risk individuals in Wels, Upper Austria. Core offerings include the Tageszentrum (Day Center) for low-threshold daytime support, Notschlafstelle (Emergency Shelter) for short-term overnight accommodation, Wohnhaus (Residential Home) for long-term supported housing, Übergangswohnen (Transitional Housing) for time-limited independent living, and Wohnen für Frauen (Women's Shared Living) for women facing homelessness. Supplementary programs include Social Cooking, Social Shopping donation drives, the Kupfermuckn street newspaper, and the TIPIDAU guide for homeless services.

Product overview

Soziales Wohnservice Wels is a non-profit social services organization offering an integrated suite of housing and support services for homeless and at-risk individuals. The core service portfolio consists of five interconnected programs: Tageszentrum (Day Center) providing basic supplies and low-threshold access; Notschlafstelle (Emergency Shelter) offering short-term overnight accommodation; Wohnhaus (Residential Home) providing long-term housing for adults requiring support; Übergangswohnen (Transitional Housing) delivering time-limited independent living with social work counseling; and Wohnen für Frauen (Women's Shared Living) offering specialized residence for women in crisis. Supplementary programs include Social Cooking, Social Shopping, and the Kupfermuckn street newspaper project, all designed to combat poverty and social exclusion. The organization also publishes the TIPIDAU guide as a directory of social contact points. Services are funded by the Social Department of the State of Upper Austria.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Kupfermuckn: A street newspaper project for homeless and socially disadvantaged people, offering structure and income opportunities through newspaper production and street sales. 'Kupfermuckn' means a sleeping place or shelter in the vocabulary of homeless people.

Products and services

• Tageszentrum (Day Center) A low-threshold daytime facility for homeless or at-risk individuals providing free breakfast, hot meals for €1, shower and laundry facilities, computer and internet access, information and counseling services, and a postal address for registrations. Open Monday-Saturday 9:00-17:00 and Sundays/holidays 10:00-14:00.
• Notschlafstelle (Emergency Shelter) A low-threshold overnight facility for acutely homeless adults (18+) offering short-term accommodation with professional social work support, including a non-compliance area with externally accessible single rooms. Open daily 18:00-7:30. A nightly fee is charged.
• Wohnhaus (Residential Home) A long-term residential facility for homeless adults (18+) capable of self-care but requiring support. Offers 15 places (8 single and 1 double room for men, 3 single and 1 double room for women) with individualized care agreements. A usage and care contribution (Nutzungs- und Betreuungsbeitrag) is charged.
• Übergangswohnen (Transitional Housing) Time-limited independent living in affordable small apartments distributed throughout Wels, with social work counseling and support. Offers 17 housing places plus a specialized women's community with children (4 places).
• Wohnen für Frauen (Women's Shared Living) A women's community residence offering housing for four women facing imminent or acute homelessness, providing a protected environment for recovery, counseling, and developing independence within approximately one year.
• Social Cooking A community engagement program inviting companies, clubs, youth groups, or friend circles to cook warm lunches for socially disadvantaged people at the day center, promoting experience, tolerance, and reducing prejudice toward homeless individuals.
• Social Shopping A donation collection project where participating supermarkets and drogerie stores host info and collection tables, with customers purchasing items from a needs list to donate to those in need.
• Kupfermuckn Street Newspaper A street newspaper culture and employment project offering structure and income through co-creation and sale of the newspaper for people affected by homelessness, providing authentic insight into lives on the margins of society.
• TIPIDAU Guide A Wels guide for homeless people, a directory of contact points for emergency assistance including shelter, advice, food, clothing, and other support services.

Named customers4 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Arge für ObdachlosecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociation for the homeless - a network partner for homeless services coordination.
• Bundesarbeitsgemeinschaft Wohnungslosenhilfe (BAWO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational working group for homeless assistance - provides professional standards and networking for homeless services.
• Armutskonferenz - Netzwerk gegen Armut und soziale AusgrenzungcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnti-poverty network working against poverty and social exclusion.
• B29 - Verein Wohnen SteyrminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHousing association in neighboring Steyr region.
• Sozialverein B37minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSocial services association for the region.
• Caritas OberösterreichcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor social services organization in Upper Austria providing counseling and social services referred to as 'Sozialberatungsstelle Wels'.
• Evangelische Stadt-DIAKONIE LinzminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProtestant social services organization in Linz.
• Freiwilligenzentrum WelscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVolunteer center in Wels for coordinating volunteer support.
• Wohnungslosenhilfe MosaikminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpecialized homeless assistance organization.
• Vinzenzstüberl im Ordensklinikum (Linz)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare social services at Ordensklinikum Linz for patient support.
• Sozialplattform OberösterreichcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSocial platform for Upper Austria coordinating social services and job listings.
• Volkshilfe WelscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVolkshilfe district organization providing social market, affordable shopping, clothing, and delogation prevention services in Wels.
• Verein WohnplattformcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFree counseling for people facing housing loss and eviction prevention.
• Die OÖ TafelcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUpper Austrian food bank providing social market, secondhand store, social kitchen, and counseling services.
• AMS - WelscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPublic employment service for job placement and career support.
• Klinikum Wels-GrieskirchenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional hospital providing healthcare services.
• Magistrat der Stadt WelscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCity government providing municipal services and administrative support.
• Österreichische Gesundheitskasse - Servicestelle WelscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAustrian Health Insurance Fund providing health coverage and services.
• Welser HeimstättecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal housing association providing affordable housing options.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Regional players

• B29 - Verein Wohnen Steyr: Regional Upper Austrian housing association serving people at risk of homelessness in Steyr; operates in the same Land OÖ funding environment with a comparable supported-housing model.
• Sozialverein B37: Upper Austrian regional social services association coordinating cross-municipality aid; SWS partner and a comparable Verein-style provider operating in overlapping regional networks.

Direct peers

• Wohnungslosenhilfe Mosaik: Austrian specialist organization providing targeted homeless-assistance services; named SWS partner and a comparable niche provider within the same national ecosystem.
• Neunerhaus: Vienna-based non-profit offering integrated services for homeless and at-risk people, including medical care, housing, and street-level outreach; directly comparable service model and Housing First orientation in another Austrian city.
• Vinzenzgemeinschaft Graz: Austrian Catholic homelessness organization operating shelter, day services, and housing programs in Graz; directly comparable service mix and faith-rooted non-profit structure to SWS.
• Volkshilfe Wels: District arm of Volkshilfe providing a social market, affordable shopping, clothing, and eviction-prevention services in Wels; overlapping target population (low-income and housing-insecure residents) and overlapping partner ecosystem with SWS.
• Die OÖ Tafel: Upper Austrian food bank providing social market, second-hand store, social kitchen, and counseling; named core partner of SWS and addresses overlapping client base with food-insecurity and housing-insecurity intersections.

Broad incumbents

• Caritas Oberösterreich: Major Catholic social services provider in Upper Austria operating counseling, housing, and emergency assistance; a named core partner of SWS that competes for similar state funding while offering a broader portfolio across the region.
• Diakonie Österreich: National Protestant social services federation operating housing, refugee, and emergency aid programs across Austria; broader portfolio than SWS but overlapping homelessness and supported-living services, and partner of SWS via Evangelische Stadt-DIAKONIE Linz.

Others

• BAWO (Bundesarbeitsgemeinschaft Wohnungslosenhilfe): National umbrella and standards body for Austrian homeless assistance; SWS is a member and uses BAWO's professional frameworks, making BAWO both an ecosystem participant and a strategic ally/competitor for federal funding.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses2 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/swswels
• Facebookfacebook.com/swswels
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/soziales-wohnservice-wels

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Soziales Wohnservice Wels