External environment and homelessness

Trends and events in the external environment can have a significant impact on third sector organisations. Sometimes they can be predicted and mitigated against in advance; but often we have insufficient notice to plan effectively. 

Examples of external forces that affect organisations can be political movements, such as a change of government or national policy; or they can be more socially orientated, such as the swine flu pandemic; or economically focused, such as the economic downturn in the UK.