Single person households
Traditional household structures are changing with family sizes generally decreasing. The biggest change is the increase in single person households. By 2021 35% of households are expected to consist of just one person. [1] This is due to a rise in divorce rates, lone parents, elderly women outliving men and the growth of young professionals living alone. However, there has also been an increase in young people living with their parents longer due to rising house prices.
What are the implications?
- A continued increase in single person households may further decrease housing availability.
- Growing poverty and inequality as a result of increasing house prices and weaker links to family income.
- Increase in debt.
- A reduction in individual giving
- This driver may have important implications for charities that provide homeless services.
- This driver may have important implications for charities that provide debt advice.
- This driver may have important implications for charities that work with those in poverty.
Moving forward
This driver does not have direct implications for VCOs but it will impact on the other drivers listed below as well as many others. (There is often a relationship or interdependency between different drivers, which may be important to your organisation. As you scan each driver, it is important to think about its relationship or influence on others; if drivers are linked, then you need to think laterally to draw in all those that may be relevant.)
However, here are some questions for your organisation to consider:
- How can your organisation be relied upon as a source of support as immediate family and household ties change?
An increase in debt and higher living costs may impact on levels of individual giving.
- What strategies can your organisation put in place now to manage potential future changes in funding?
- Can you diversify your income sources or work in partnership with other organisations?
Organisations that work with homeless people, those in poverty or debt may find there is greater demand for their services.
What role does monitoring and evaluation play in your strategic planning? How could an understanding of changing need help you to develop more effective services in the future? You could think about this in two ways:
- Opportunities to improve: Should you need to change how you work or be more responsive?
- Opportunities to innovate: Should you serve new or different users?
Want to know more?
Published by: Office for National Statistics - a Government Department
Date: 2005
Format: PDF (797KB) as well as web based summaries
What is it? A statistical analysis using demographic information to explore family types and examine the similarities and differences between them.
How useful is this? This short analysis focuses on families but also includes a section on households, which finds that more people are living alone.
Other comments:
Unilever Family Report 2005: Home Alone?
Published by: IPPR – a left of centre think tank
Date: 2005
Format: PDF
What is it? This report explores the growing trend of people living alone and includes a range of statistics as well as qualitative analysis.
How useful is this? This report aims to supplement existing quantitative data by exploring why people live along and who they are. Aspects covered include: living alone as a rite of passage; whether living alone is a real choice; the different experiences of men and women; the negative financial impact of living alone; its impact on inequality; ethnicity; and environmental implications. It also discusses the impact more broadly on families and social relations. Interestingly the report finds that those living alone are more likely to say that they would be prepared to volunteer.
Other comments:
Single person households and social policy: looking forwards
Published by: The Joseph Rowntree Foundation – a research and development charity.
Date: 2006
Format: PDF
What is it? This paper analyses the implications of the growth in single person households for social policy. It includes a large number of statistics.
How useful is this? This paper looks at the demographic make up of people living alone and draws a distinction between those living alone through choice and those who have been forced to live alone. It highlights the possible impacts solo living can have on: poverty and inequality; creating labour market; housing policy; neighbourhoods and social capital; and health. It also looks forwards posing possible future research questions.
Other comments:
References
- Unilever/IPPR Family report 2005 [back]
Discuss
How will this affect your organisation? Have you considered it during your strategic planning? Can you share any interesting relevant links? Start the discussion by posting a comment here!
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