56% of Single-Person Households at Risk of Dying Alone... Incheon Yeonsu District Strengthens Customized Welfare Support

Incheon Yeonsu District has completed a comprehensive survey on the living conditions of single-person households and has begun providing customized welfare services. In particular, the district plans to proactively offer a variety of welfare policies, as more than half of the survey respondents were classified as being at risk of dying alone.

According to the district office on September 4, a survey was conducted over the course of a month starting in May, targeting 428 newly designated low-income single-person households. The survey assessed their health status, economic situation, level of risk for dying alone (degree of social isolation), policy needs, and preferred channels for receiving welfare services.

As a result of the survey, out of 311 respondents, 176 people (56.6%) were classified as being at risk of dying alone. Among them, 7 were in the high-risk group, 31 in the medium-risk group, and 138 in the low-risk group.

In terms of housing type, 144 respondents (46.2%) were living in multi-family or row houses, while 153 people (49.2%) were found to be in unstable housing situations, such as living in monthly rental units with a deposit.

Yeonsu District Office, Incheon

Especially regarding health status, 178 people (55.6%) reported having a disability or illness, indicating an urgent need for regular health management and an emergency response system for single-person households.

When asked about the most needed support policies, respondents cited financial assistance (170 people), health management services (59 people), housing support (57 people), and job support (43 people), in that order.

The district plans to provide services to prevent solitary deaths for the 176 people at risk, including AI-based welfare check-in services and the provision of beverages through the "Love Beverage" program. In addition, households facing multiple challenges will be selected as integrated case management recipients and provided with tailored welfare policies.

Furthermore, the district will strengthen door-to-door health and welfare services by neighborhood, promote applications for Yeonsu-type emergency support and housing benefits, and, when needs are identified in areas such as employment, housing, finance, or counseling, will connect residents with specialized institutions for appropriate welfare services.

An official from Yeonsu District stated, "Through the comprehensive survey, we were able to identify high-risk single-person households who had fallen through the cracks of the welfare system at an early stage," adding, "We will focus on preventing social isolation through ongoing monitoring and customized support."