Re: Subsidized housing
If you are destitute, and have registered with the "Sozialamt" (social security office)* you will be offered some sort of rudimentary accommodation in a "family hostel". This is considered emergency, temporary housing. Therefore, it doesn't have to fulfil the usual minimum requirements for comfortable living, for example, you may have one room for all four of you or may even share with another family. That is what a Social Worker explained to me.
The aim will be to get you out of there as soon as possible. However, this is unlikely to be by fnding you a flat. It will be by requiring of you to learn enough German to get a job and pay your own way, so you can rent an appartment.
There is subsidised housing, but in that segment of the rental market the demand is very high. Unless someone you know knows someone who knows someone, it is hard to find a cheap flat to rent.
If you do find flat that is subsidised, the "discount" is already deducted before you get the contract. So an apartment which might cost Fr. 2100 if it were not subsided and Fr. 1500 with a subsidy, would be rented on a contract at Fr. 1500. The subsidy happens in the background. The tenant owes the full Fr. 1500.
* Please note that and as a Swiss citizen you have an inaliable right to return to Switzerland at any time, and also to help from the Sozialamt, even if you have never paid tax to the Swiss government. You ALWAYS have this to fall back on.
However, the budget at that level is very low, and it is a struggle to make ends meet each month. It is not a comfortable way to live, but you will be able to count on a roof over your head and just enough for very plain food, so this makes it a very good option for anyone who cannot manage to support him/herself.... yet.
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