Thread by @tanjamaier17

All across Austria the same story is playing out. Ukrainians who arrived here in March have run out of the money, their savings, they brought with them. They arrived in winter clothes all need summer stuff, no money to buy it, charity stocks empty.

The state money promised to them by the Austrian government is woefully inadequate for today’s prices. Even worse, many, a very significant minority, have not received a single Euro yet. The number of mess ups and lost files and bureaucratic excuses is astounding. All over.

Very few have found full time work. It is not easy and not straightforward and the barriers to entry are many. Those living in state allocated housing complain of not being fed properly and not receiving any money to even be able to shop and cook for themselves. Yes, all over.

Those in dorms are the unlucky ones. Who didn’t find Austrian families or have enough funds to rent an apartment. Now they are told if they find jobs that pay they will lose their housing and little state money. So basically, the entire message is: Ukrainians, leave Austria.

Don’t come here unless you can afford to support yourselves. We are hearing horrible stories of abuse and manipulation and I fear there are many more we simply haven’t heard yet. That people are literally begging for €50 Hofer cards tells you how dire the situation is. That bad.

Now I go back to work. My Ted Talk is simple.

Money now. Housing now. Jobs now.

I met two women going to work for an Austrian ski manufacturer yesterday. Not war zone refugees though. They came from western Ukraine bc their friend got them the job. Typical.

Wanting to keep people separated from society, not integrated, not working, not paying taxes, shows an utter lack of understanding about how economies grow and thrive from those in charge of the Austrian response. You want Ukrainians employed, earning fair wages! Econ 101!

Last I promise! If you have Ukrainian kids in your child’s school or kindergarten, ask the moms if they need clothes, shoes. If you are out grocery shopping, ask a 🇺🇦 family if you can pay. They are proud people but in my experience 9 times of 10 when help is offered they accept.

Also if I can write this thread sitting in my car in a Hofer parking lot, the government can do its job which taxpayers pay it to do. Responsibility. A word many seem to have forgotten. Humanity. Dignity. Doing the right thing. The circus for the cameras isn’t fooling anyone.

I normally write a nearly daily Substack and today was only the first time in three days I managed to write. This week has been very intense. I’m scared that is our new reality; it should not be.

tanjamaier.substack.com/p/a-perfect-st…

Just a tiny example but I gave our Ukrainian neighbor a €50 gift card this week for an affordable shoe store chain in Vienna. It’s hot now. She is thrilled and just sent me this photo. It’s little things. But a million of them. For millions of people. All over Europe.

Please read this! This is happening in several locations. Hotels turned into refugee camps with prison l-like food do not work for Ukrainian moms and kids. Full stop. We must end the refugee “business model”. Give the Ukrainian women cash in hand. Give them their independence.

https://twitter.com/tanjamaier17/status/1525142134805913600