Appropriate housing in rural and mountain areas? Current structures and practices of access for immigrants - the case of Alpine regions in Austria and Germany

Housing is commonly discussed as an important dimension of the social inclusion and integration of immigrants, but also as a prerequisite for staying. While challenges in urban contexts mostly affect shortages, the picture is more diverse in rural and mountain areas, including abandoned housing and vacancies, the scarce availability of rental apartments, and overpriced accommodation in light of the preference for profitable second homes or high tourism intensity. This chapter discusses the situation in three Alpine regions in Austria and Germany with diverse housing market structures. The results suggest that although housing policies differ considerably between regions, key actors must consider the changing needs of labour migrants and refugees for appropriate housing. Especially in a rural environment, aspirations to keep an apartment and improve one’s living conditions must be supported by NGOs or private actors.