Homeless Incidence and Risk Factors for Becoming Homeless in Veterans

Preventing veterans from becoming homeless is an integral strategy of eliminating homelessness in veterans. Using integrated data from VA and the Department of Defense (DoD), VA OIG conducted this first ever population-based longitudinal study to determine the incidence of becoming homeless (the newly homeless) after military separation, identify risk factors for veterans becoming homeless, and describe utilization of VA specific homeless services by homeless veterans. The study population consists of 310,685 veterans who separated from the military from July 1, 2005 to September 30, 2006, and who had not experienced any homeless episodes before separation from DoD. We found that 3.7 percent of these veterans had experienced their first episode of homelessness at 5 years after separation. Veterans of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF)/Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and women veterans experienced higher incidences of homelessness. Veterans who experienced homelessness were younger, enlisted with lower pay grades, and were more likely to be diagnosed with mental disorders and /or traumatic brain injury at the time of separation from active duty. We found that the presence of mental disorders (substance-related disorders and/or mental illness) is the strongest predictor of becoming homeless. Military sexual trauma is also a risk factor for becoming homeless, especially in women veterans. We noted that the percent of mental disorder diagnoses among newly homeless OEF/OIF veterans was higher than those of their non-OEF/OIF counterparts prior to becoming homeless, although the percent of OEF/OIF veterans diagnosed with mental disorders before discharge from DoD was generally lower than their non-OEF/OIF counterparts. The Under Secretary for Health concurred with our findings and recommendation and provided acceptable action plans.