Archive | 2021
Armut und institutionelle Armenfürsorge. Vom Elend der Zuständigkeit
Abstract
Poverty and Institutional Poor Relief. The Misery of Responsibility. Poor relief in Lower Austria in the 19th century took place in an area of conflict between municipalities, the political districts and the state, the law on the right of domicile, amended in 1863, placing provision services primarily on the shoulders of the municipalities. The communes had to care for the local poor, the “push system” (Schubsystem) returned them to their home communes – but such care mostly proved inadequate. After the unbundling of institutional care for the poor via the foundation of general hospitals, ever more poorhouses dedicated to old-age care were built, but also hostels (Naturalverpflegestationen), which were principally aimed at jobseekers.