Society and Health- Key issues for society part 2

LEISURE

leisure patterns have massively changed throughout the years, this is due to the following factors:

• Employment- unemployed people generally spend more time watching television than any other leisure activity, where as employed people may get out a lot more.
• Age- if your a lot younger then you will join clubs like scouts, where as if you older then you do more 'adult' things like going to the pub.
• Gender- women have less leisure time due to having to work, and then go home to domestic work and childcare.
• Marriage/Cohabitation- couples will make leisure activities probably with other couples.
• Dependent children- if you have younger children then it will be a lot harder for parents to have leisure time.
• Education- research has shown that less educated people watch a lot more TV than highly educated people.
• Income- if your on quite a low income then you wont have a lot of money to spend on leisure activities as it will all go bills.
• Time available- if you work a lot or look after children, then your own personal leisure time may be more limited.
• Location- if you live in a rural location then you wont have many community leisure facilities.
• Holidays- holidays have massively increased, especially holidays abroad.

HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS

Local authorities have an obligation to home certain types of homeless people first, that includes:

• pregnant women
• people with dependent children
• the vulnerable; old age, mental disorders or physical disability
• those with vulnerable people in their family
• those who lost their home due to an emergency e.g. earthquake

Causes of homelessness:

• Eviction
• Loss of employment
• Health problems
• Unable to be accommodated by parents, relatives or friends
• Breakdown of a relationship
• Mortgage or rent arrears
• Moving out of a home
• Emergencies like earthquakes
• Limited housing supplies
• 

Effects of homelessness:

• Low self-esteem
• Limited access to health and hygiene
• Boredom
• Difficulties with relationships
• Increased dangers
• Lack of privacy

HOUSING

•  There are two main types of housing available in the UK, they are: house/bungalow and flat/maisonette
• The size of the home all depends on the size of the household, and financial income.
• 80% of the UK live in a house or bungalow.
• There are two main housing options available: buying a home or renting a home.

Renting from a Registered Social Landlord (RSL)

• Independent and non-profit making
• Important providers of social housing, which can also be described as affordable homes provided by councils or RSL's.
• Receive money off the government to build houses, only income is through the rent
• In 2005, 2.2 million homes were rented from RSL's.
• Rents are fixed by the goverment.
• Most local authorities provide a waiting list for RSL homes, as they work in cooperation.
• RSL's also help a lot in the community, by providing community schemes to stop social exclusion.
• You have to apply to rent a home from RSL's or councils.
• Preferenceis given to those who need it most
• Homes can sometimes be allocated through a point scoring system.
• 

Renting from a Private Landlord

• A…