Moving In, Moving Out: Household Sharing, the Public Safety Net and Economic Well-Being

Laryssa Mykyta, U.S. Census Bureau

The recession ending in June 2009 renewed research and media interest in the phenomenon of “doubling up” or household sharing. Changes in household sharing, particularly in the context of economic downturns and a fraying public safety net, are important to understand. In this analysis, I use panel data from the 2008 Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP) to examine how transitioning to or from a shared household interacts with the public safety net and affects adult well-being. Preliminary results suggest that household sharing increases resources available to households and individuals in terms of earnings and program benefits. These results suggest that sharing a household alleviates hardship and improves economic well-being.