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Health care of homeless veterans

Why are some individuals falling through the safety net?

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Abstract

It is important to understand the needs of those veterans who are homeless. We describe characteristics of homeless male veterans and factors associated with needing VA benefits from a two-city, community survey of 531 homeless adults. Overall, 425 were male, of whom 127 were veterans (29.9%). Significantly more veterans had a chronic medical condition and two or more mental health conditions. Only 35.1% identified a community clinic for care compared with 66.8% of non-veterans (P<.01); 47.7% identified a shelter-based clinic and 59.1% reported needing VA benefits. Those reporting this need were less likely to report a medical comorbidity (58.7% vs 76.9%; P=.04), although 66.7% had a mental health comorbidity and 82.7% met Diagnosic Screening Manual (DSM)-IIIR criteria for substance abuse/dependence. They were also significantly more likely to access shelter clinics compared with veterans without this need. Homeless veterans continue to have substantial health issues. Active outreach is needed for those lacking access to VA services.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Received from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, USA

    Thomas P. O’Toole MD

  2. Hospital Universitario de Gran Canaria, Spain

    Alicia Conde-Martel MD

  3. Maricopa County Department of Public Health, Phoenix, Ariz

    Jeanette L. Gibbon MD, MPH

  4. Center for Research on Health Care, Division of General Internal Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, USA

    Barbara H. Hanusa PhD

  5. the VA Center for Health Equity Research and Promotion, VA Pittsburgh Health Care System, Pittsburgh, Pa

    Michael J. Fine MD, MSc

Authors
  1. Thomas P. O’Toole MD
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  2. Alicia Conde-Martel MD
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  3. Jeanette L. Gibbon MD, MPH
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  4. Barbara H. Hanusa PhD
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  5. Michael J. Fine MD, MSc
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Thomas P. O’Toole MD.

Additional information

This project was funded by a contract from the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, 270-95-0009. Dr. O’Toole is funded by an NIDA career development award K23DA13988-01.

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O’Toole, T.P., Conde-Martel, A., Gibbon, J.L. et al. Health care of homeless veterans. J GEN INTERN MED 18, 929–933 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1525-1497.2003.21209.x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1525-1497.2003.21209.x

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