When winter temperatures drop across Austria, the risk to people sleeping outdoors becomes critical. In January 2026, two men died in Vienna due to exposure to extreme cold, a tragedy that highlights the necessity of emergency support systems like the Kältetelefon, or “cold line.” These regional phone services, managed by Caritas and its partners, provide a direct link between members of the public who notice someone at risk and outreach teams capable of providing aid.
The concept behind the cold line is straightforward: if you encounter someone sleeping in dangerous, freezing conditions, a phone call can help social services reach them in time. Caritas Austria emphasizes that many people want to help when they spot an improvised sleeping place but are often unsure of the correct steps to take. Their primary recommendation is to approach the individual to ask if they need assistance. For practical, non-emergency help, the public is encouraged to contact their regional Caritas Kältetelefon or a local facility. However, in an acute, life-threatening situation where health is at immediate risk, the public should call the ambulance service at 144.
When reporting a location via a cold line, callers should provide the date, time, precise location, and a description of the individual or group involved. While Caritas teams act on these reports, they note that an immediate response cannot be guaranteed. The impact of these services is significant; during the 2025/26 winter season, Vienna’s cold line handled over 15,500 calls, and Caritas helped more than 490 people secure emergency accommodation. Caritas representative Schwertner noted that these tips have helped locate people in critical condition, including individuals brought to the hospital with body temperatures as low as 34C who were successfully stabilized.
Regional contact information and operating hours vary by province. In Vienna, the service is available 24 hours a day until April 28th at 01/4804-553. Burgenland operates its line from 8 am to 10 pm until March 31st at 0676/8373-0322. Styria offers support from 6 pm to midnight until March 31st at 0676/8801-58111. Carinthia’s line, at 0463/3960-60, is active from 6 pm to 6 am through March 31st. Salzburg provides 24-hour coverage until March 31st at 0676/8482-10651, and Tyrol’s service, managed by Tyrolean Social Services, operates 24 hours a day until April 30th at 0512/2144-7.
In Vorarlberg, the Caritas Center Feldkirch can be reached at 05522/200-1700 on weekdays from 8 am to midday, with specific facilities like the Notschlafstelle at Jahnplatz 4 available overnight. Upper Austria’s cold line for Linz operates on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 am to midday until March 31st at 0732/7767-67560, with email support available at linzer-kaeltetelefon@b37.at. Lower Austria does not have a province-wide line, but Caritas lists emergency sleeping places in St. Pölten at 0676/886 44 0 and Wiener Neustadt at 02622/23 191.
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Kältetelefon – “cold line”, a phone line to report people at risk in cold weather Winternothilfe – winter emergency assistance services Streetwork – outreach work by social workers supporting people on the street Notquartier – emergency shelter or emergency accommodation Notschlafstelle – emergency sleeping place (overnight facility) Wohnungslosigkeit – homelessness or housing exclusion (umbrella term)
