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Homelessness among a nationally representative sample of US veterans: prevalence, service utilization, and correlates

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Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

To examine the prevalence of lifetime homelessness among veterans and use of Veterans Affairs (VA) homeless services, as well as their association with sociodemographic and clinical characteristics.

Methods

A nationally representative sample of 1533 US veterans was surveyed July–August 2015.

Results

Among all veterans, 8.5 % reported any lifetime homelessness in their adult life, but only 17.2 % of those reported using VA homeless services. Prevalence of homelessness and VA homeless service use did not significantly differ by gender. Being low income, aged 35–44, and having poor mental and physical health were each independently associated with lifetime homelessness. Veterans who were White or lived in rural areas were significantly less likely to have used VA homeless services.

Conclusions

Homelessness remains a substantial problem across different generations of veterans. The low reported uptake of VA homeless services suggests there are barriers to care in this population, especially for veterans who live in rural areas. Governmental resources dedicated to veteran homelessness should be supported, and obtaining accurate prevalence estimates are important to tracking progress over time.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. US Department of Veterans Affairs New England Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center, 950 Campbell Ave., 151D, West Haven, CT, 06516, USA

    Jack Tsai & Robert A. Rosenheck

  2. Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, 06511, USA

    Jack Tsai, Robert A. Rosenheck & Robert H. Pietrzak

  3. Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, 10032, USA

    Bruce Link

  4. New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, 10032, USA

    Bruce Link

  5. US Department of Veterans Affairs National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, West Haven, CT, 06516, USA

    Robert H. Pietrzak

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  1. Jack Tsai
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  2. Robert A. Rosenheck
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  3. Robert H. Pietrzak
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Correspondence to Jack Tsai.

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Tsai, J., Link, B., Rosenheck, R.A. et al. Homelessness among a nationally representative sample of US veterans: prevalence, service utilization, and correlates. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 51, 907–916 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-016-1210-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-016-1210-y

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