ABSTRACT

This chapter illustrates care of the poor in the modern period alternated between the provision of relief and the imposition of discipline. The level of security and provision attained by vagrants is influenced by the extent to which they are able to establish firm relationships with the resident population. The chapter analyses how the issue was dealt with in terms of legislation. Further legislation embodied in the law on communes of 24 April 1859 which was valid throughout the Habsburg Monarchy, made the communal authorities solely responsible for the concession of residence rights. The chapter looks more closely at the gradual process of differentiation between the various institutions in Austria dealing with the poor during the 19th century. The gradual move towards the centralisation of poor relief institutions can best be illustrated by a look at the Austrian capital, Vienna, as the provinces were comparatively slow in bringing in innovations.