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REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE
Veterans are overrepresented among the homeless population in the United States at 40% as it relates to poverty (Fargo, et al. 2012). Research indicates that poverty, lack of support networks, mental illnesses, finances, childhood experiences, substance abuse, and overcrowded or substandard housing are some factors that contribute to homelessness among veterans. Additionally, study shows that homelessness among veterans is at a higher percentage in the categories of age, race, and gender as it relates to the contributing factors (Fargo, et al. 2012). Donna Washington, et al. (2010) observed certain characteristics associated with homelessness such as sexual assault during military service, unemployment, disabled,
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having worse overall health, and screening positive for an anxiety disorder or post-traumatic stress disorder. The objective of their study was to determine risk factors for homelessness among non-institutionalized women veterans, and to contrast their health and health care use with those of a matched sample of housed women veterans. Their study indicates that women who have served in the United States military are three to four times more likely to become homeless than are non-veteran women, though the reasons are not clearly understood. Women veterans likely present different needs with respect to privacy, gender-related care, treatment for physical and sexual trauma, housing support, and care for dependent children, Washington, et al.
(2010). Similar to Washington, et al (2010), Fargo, et al (2012) indicates that female veterans stand to benefit more from existing homelessness-prevention efforts tied to reentering civilian life, which focus on housing needs, than from efforts that combine housing with health care services. On the contrary, Fargo, et al (2012) conducted a research study that provided detailed assessment of risk for homelessness among veterans than what has previously been reported. They specifically aimed to answer two research questions: 1) Is veteran status associated with an increased risk of homelessness? and 2) Does risk of homelessness among veterans vary as a function of age, race, and sex? Fargo, et al states that understanding the epidemiology of homelessness and the specific factors associated with increased risk of becoming homeless is prerequisite of both reducing homelessness and more effectively addressing the health needs of this population. However, when addressing poverty and the number of black race in poverty, Fargo, et al. (2012) states that the youngest age group living in poverty is more than 50% black male veterans and more than 30% black female veterans were homeless. This is compared to only 7% for …show more content…
nonblack males and 12 for nonblack females. The design of study in both of these scholarly journals differs.
Washington, et al. (2010) used a matched case-control design in which homeless women veterans in Los Angeles County were each matched with five housed women veteran historical controls. The study identified all women veterans in the housed dataset who had the same starting and ending period of military service (pre-Vietnam era, Vietnam, Post-Vietnam-to-9/11/01, post-9/11/01), were within five years of age, and resided in the Los Angeles area. Interestingly, the study shows that there is a disproportionate representation amongst the homeless and housed female veterans as it relates to race. For instance, Washington, et al shows ~55% black female veterans who are homeless to that of ~36% white females. Likewise, their research indicates 53% white female veterans who are housed to that of 26% black housed females. The female veterans who are homeless verses housed experienced had a greater percentage of sexual assault during their military service (Washington, et al. 2010). Unlike the multivariate regression model used by Fargo, et al., Donna Washington, et al used a multiple logistic regression model with a Monte Carlo algorithm in studying the risk factors for homelessness among women veterans. The homeless subjects were recruited between December 2005 and January 2006, using VA-affiliated and non-VA affiliated homeless service organization contacts. Sixty face to face interviews were conducted (n=30) or
telephone interviews (n=3) with 33 homeless women veterans. In this study, respondents provided oral consent and were reimbursed $25 for their time. Washington, et al also used a survey measure method. A homelessness survey measure included the length of time homeless and number of entries into and out of homelessness. Veteran-specific factors included periods of military service, service-connected disability rating, and military sexual assault (MST) history. Whereas, in the study designs used by Fargo, et al. (2012) to ascertain data, the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) and the American Community Survey (ACS) were used. Data were provided from seven jurisdictions as a basis for estimating the prevalence of veterans among the homeless, poverty, and overall population, calculating risk ratios for veteran status, and identifying whether risk of homelessness among veterans varies as a function of age, race, or sex. A convenient sample of eleven urban Continuum of Care (CoCs) from geographic regions throughout the country initially provided HMIS data for this study. To compute rates of homelessness, Fargo, et al (2012) used ACS data to estimate the total veteran and nonveteran populations in each CoC. ACS data were totaled by age, sex, race, veteran status, and poverty status. For the purpose of gathering this data, a multivariate regression model was used to test the factors that have an impact on homelessness among veterans. Data were gathered on demographic characteristics and veteran status for 130,554 homeless people from 7 jurisdictions that provide homeless services and for the population living in poverty. In addition, the general population of the American Community Survey for those same jurisdictions was studied. Furthermore, their research calculated the prevalence of veterans among the homeless, poverty, and general populations, and risk ratios (RR) for veteran status among these populations. Some veterans returning home from the military are faced with challenges of employment and living expenses. If these veterans returning home cannot secure gainful employment, manage their financial resources, or are not able to personally take advantage of services offered to veteran, they could easily become faced with homelessness. Eric Elbogen, et al. (2013) reveals that this revelation is not new, and for the past 20 years, researchers have tried to pinpoint reasons for the high levels of veteran homelessness. Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, bipolar disorder, alcohol and drug abuse, younger age, and contact with the criminal justice system have each been identified as risk factors for homelessness among veterans (Elbogen, et al. 2013). However, research also shows how financial instability may contribute to homelessness among veterans. In this regard, Elbogen, et al (2013) states that veterans face an array of barriers, including, lack of stable employment, inability to budget, limited financial knowledge, poor judgment in making financial decisions, and lack of material security. It is noted that these factors can exist independent of mental health diagnoses and other risk factors previously mentioned. Thousands of veterans are returning from combat in Iraq and Afghanistan. To our knowledge, few empirical efforts have been directed at examining whether veteran homelessness may be related to how veterans manage their finances (Elbogen, et al. 2013). Money mismanagement was the strongest bivariate factor associated with homelessness among veterans according to Elbogen, et al. (2013), at 30.2%. Predatory lenders are known to target military members and veterans because of their lack of financial knowledge. Service members who live on base and have their basic needs met may not have the opportunity to learn the skills necessary to being financially independent and manage money (Elbogen, et al. 2013). Research shows that this is true for male and female veterans. Washington, et al. (2010) states that among women veterans, being unemployed is one of the strongest predictors of homelessness at 25.8%. Unemployment and management of finances have greatly affected veterans returning from the Iraq and Afghanistan wars without gender discrimination.
Roughly 45% of all homeless veterans are African American or Hispanic, despite only accounting for 10.4% and 3.4% of the U.S. veteran population,
In the article, Numbers, it states, that the estimated number of homeless veterans in the United States was 200,000 (Lamarque). This article was based on the statistics of homeless veterans from 2006, meaning the number of homeless veterans has increased. This statistic represents how many veterans are homeless and how much is not being done about it. According to Veteran's Inc, between 529,000 and 840,000 veterans are homeless at sometime during the year. This means that since 2006, the number of homeless veterans have doubled, possibly even quadrupled over the past few years. Homeless veterans make up a huge portion of the homeless
Our soldiers can’t afford the cost of living because they enrolled in the military at a young age. Adding a drug/alcohol free facility for our homeless veterans will reduce rates for everything. If we can’t take care of our own military personnel, who will ever want to serve for our country knowing they won’t get anything beneficial from it. The majority of our homeless veterans are males with the percent of 33. Even women are left homeless after returning home with a percentage of 10. The numbers for both male and female homelessness is said to rise as more people are enlisting into the service. People in today’s society take advantage of our soldiers and veterans. It’s very disrespectful knowing that there are veterans out there on the street and not one person will do anything. People need to start taking action to make a change. Without a change being made, soldiers are going to going to continue to be homeless and lack the care they need. (Cole para
“Homelessness continues to be a particularly troubling problem facing American society. Perhaps, even more troubling is the disproportionate share of veterans among the American homeless. Simply put, it is unconscionable that people who have often sacrificed a great deal in service to their country should face such deplorable circumstances upon their return to the home front. While the causes of homelessness among veterans are numerous and complex, research demonstrates that child support obligations play a major role in impeding the ability of homeless veterans to leave the streets and return to productive society.” (Berenson, 2011, Para.
With nearly 3.18 million people in the United States, there are 610.042 individuals who are homeless which calculates to about nearly one in five individuals (U.S. Census Bureau, 2014 and HUD/US, 2013). At any time situations can change that can render an individual’s homeless. There are no qualities that exempt individuals from the chances of becoming homeless. However, there are certain predispositions and characteristics that can predict the likelihood of becoming homeless. Homelessness can be contributed to a number of situations such as occupational stress, financial stress, mental health issues, substance use, gender, age, race, disabilities, incarceration, chronic illness, and family stress.
Homelessness in the United States has been an important subject that the government needs to turn its attention to. There has been announced in the news that the number of the homeless people in many major cities in the United States has been increasing enormously. According to United States Interagency Council on Homelessness reported that there was an estimation of 83,170 individuals have experienced chronic homelessness on the streets of the United States’ streets and shelters on only a single night of January 2015, which is a small decrease of only 1% from the previous year (People Experiencing Chronic Homelessness, n.d.). The United States must consider this subject that most of the people underestimate it and not pay attention
Although most people know what homelessness is and it occurs in most societies, it is important to define because the forces of displacement vary greatly, along with the arrangement and meaning of the resulting transient state. The Stewart B McKinney Homeless Assistance Act of 1987 defined a homeless person as “an individual who lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate night-time residence or a person who resides in a shelter, welfare hotel, transitional program or place not ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation, such as streets, cars, movie theaters, abandoned buildings, etc.” Resent surveys conducted in the U.S. have confirmed that the homeless population in America is extremely diverse and includes representatives from all segments of society, including: the old and young, men and women, single people and families, city dwellers and rural residents, whites and people of color, employed and unemployed, able workers and people with serious health problems. The diversity among people that are homeless reflects how difficult it is to generalize the causes of homelessness and the needs of homeless people. Robert Rosenheck M.D., the author of Special Populations of Homeless Americans, explains the importance of studying homelessness based on subgroups, “each subgroup [of homeless people] has unique service needs and identifying these needs is critical for program planning and design.” Despite these diversities, homelessness is a devastating situation for all that experience it. Not only have homeless people lost their dwelling, but they have also lost their safety, privacy, control, and domestic comfort.
According to Streetwise of Street News Services (2010), the first reported instances of homelessness dates as far back as 1640, in some of the larger cities in the original 13 colonies. At this time, there were wars being fought between settlers and Native Americans, and people were left with no shelter in both sides (Street News Service, 2010). Later, the industrial revolution caused more homelessness, industrial accidents left many former hard-working families with a dead provider, or with severe disabilities, and then the economy entered a recession in the same time period (Street News Service, 2010). Wars always left a large number of veterans homeless. Later, in 1927, there was an astronomical flood along the Mississippi River, across multiple state, leaving about 1.3 million people without a home (Street News Service, 2010). Natural disasters such as Hurricane Katrina, the 1906 earthquake in San Francisco, the Asian tsunami in 2004, and the earthquake early this year in Japan are still a major cause of homelessness.
"Homelessness--women veterans' service award?" Monthly Labor Review Nov. 2012: 36+. Student Resources in Context. Web. 17 Mar. 2014.
...ty for increasing the likelihood that women will become homeless. Female single parent families rose form 23.7 % of all families in poverty in 1960 to 52.6 % of all families in poverty in the mid 1990's. (Hagen, 1994). As a result of historical growth in women's poverty and female headed family homelessness, it has been increasingly important for research to focus on the unique sets of issues and problems that women's homelessness presents.
Veterans are viewed as the strongest people in the United States. They constantly deal with daily struggles such as disability and unemployment after their services. After serving in a branch of the United States military, many veterans have trouble finding work. While there are, at times, things that need to be overcome for veterans to be able to work, they are often skilled workers and deserve the opportunity to succeed in the civilian workplace.
In the word homeless there are two root words, home and less. Home is what most people would define as the place where they live, or grew up. Less, simply means not as much as. When you combine the two together homeless equals someone who grew up in a home that was held to less standards than what they would normally be held up to. For example, someone who is homeless could live in a box, it sounds terrible but unfortunately it is a part of our reality. Not everyone can afford to live in a house, pay mortgage, and all the other expenses that come with the responsibility of owning a house, or home. Today homelessness still has an affect on many people.
Montgomery, Ann Elizabeth, et al. "Relationship Among Adverse Childhood Experiences, History Of Active Military Service, And Adult Outcomes: Homelessness, Mental Health, And Physical Health." American Journal Of Public Health 103.S2 (2013): S262-S268. Academic Search Premier. Web. 28 Jan. 2014.
There are too many connecting issues that have caused homelessness to escalate from a lifestyle that was really only lived by middle aged individuals with a substance abuse problem, to a condition that is endured everyday by a diverse number of people. The 2013 Annual Homeless Assessment Report (AHAR) to Congress reveals that 36 percent of the homeless population consisted of individuals in families--over half of which were children--17.8 percent was made up by the chronically homeless, and an estimated 10 percent was comprised of veterans.
Presently, one of the main causes of homelessness in American is the lack of affordable housing. New York researchers claim that affordable housing is the answer to homelessness. Researcher, Mary Beth Shinn, states, ?homelessness is first and foremost a housing problem not a psychological one? (qtd. in Franklin 15.) Nearly all the families in their study became stably housed regardless of substance abuse, mental illness, physical illness or incarceration. This study indicates that homelessness is not a permanent condition. People do get themselves out of the problem when an intervention occurs to provide them with access to the housing market (NYU 2.) Without permanent housing, people are unable to keep jobs and are more likely to become ill. Permanent housing provides stability that enables them to find and retain employment with health benefits.