ABSTRACT
The housing needs of single people have never been properly recognised in Britain. Recent trends, however, are making the difficulties experienced still more acute. Demographic changes mean that there are increasing numbers of single people of working age wanting to form independent households. Yet savage public spending cuts have drastically reduced the number of new homes built for rent by local councils and housing associations. The private rented sector has continued its inexorable decline. Relatively few single people can afford to buy their own home and rising unemployment has restricted this option still more, especially for young people. The inevitable consequence is that large numbers of single people now endure intolerable housing stress-enforced sharing and overcrowding, inadequate temporary shelter or literally no home of any kind.
