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Cited by 303Homelessness and Social IssuesEducation and Military IntegrationCriminal Justice and Corrections Analysis

Risk Factors for Homelessness Among US Veterans

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Tsai, J., Rosenheck, R. A.·2015·Epidemiologic Reviews
DOI 10.1093/epirev/mxu004PMC PMC4521393
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Abstract

Homelessness among US veterans has been a focus of research for over 3 decades. Following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, this is the first systematic review to summarize research on risk factors for homelessness among US veterans and to evaluate the evidence for these risk factors. Thirty-one studies published from 1987 to 2014 were divided into 3 categories: more rigorous studies, less rigorous studies, and studies comparing homeless veterans with homeless nonveterans. The strongest and most consistent risk factors were substance use disorders and mental illness, followed by low income and other income-related factors. There was some evidence that social isolation, adverse childhood experiences, and past incarceration were also important risk factors. Veterans, especially those who served since the advent of the all-volunteer force, were at greater risk for homelessness than other adults. Homeless veterans were generally older, better educated, and more likely to be male, married/have been married, and to have health insurance coverage than other homeless adults. More studies simultaneously addressing premilitary, military, and postmilitary risk factors for veteran homelessness are needed. This review identifies substance use disorders, mental illness, and low income as targets for policies and programs in efforts to end homelessness among veterans.

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  • Suicide, homelessness and substance abuse, among other adverse outcomes, have been associated with major depression or generalized anxiety disorder and are concerns for active military personnel and/or veterans.

    “Suicide, homelessness and substance abuse, among other adverse outcomes, have been associated with major depression or generalized anxiety disorder and are concerns for active military personnel and/or veterans (Nock et al. 2014; Hoggatt et al. 2015; Tsai & Rosenheck 2015).”

    From Childhood adversity, adult stress, and the risk of major depression or generalized anxiety disorder in US soldiers: a test of the stress sensitization hypothesis (2017) · cites this paper as Tsai & Rosenheck 2015

    The “More rigorous studies” section identifies mental health problems and substance abuse as consistent risk factors for homelessness among veterans. It does not establish the claimed associations specifically for major depression or generalized anxiety disorder, or address suicide as an associated outcome. It also treats substance abuse as a risk factor for homelessness, not as an outcome of those diagnoses. (LLM, conf=0.85)

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Authors
Tsai, J., & Rosenheck, R. A.
Corresponding author
Tsai, J.
ORCID
Venue
Epidemiologic Reviews
Publisher
Oxford University Press (OUP)
Published
2015-01-01
Volume
37
Issue
1
Pages
177-195
ISSN
  • 0193-936X (ISSN-L)
  • 1478-6729
DOI
10.1093/epirev/mxu004
PMC
PMC4521393
OpenAlex
W2160844673
Cited by
303
References
10
Citations by year
2026: 33 · 2025: 30 · 2024: 30 · 2023: 34 · 2022: 37 · 2021: 40 · 2020: 30 · 2019: 18 · 2018: 16 · 2017: 20 · 2016: 6 · 2015: 6 · 2014: 1 · 2013: 1
FWCI
2.90
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
public-domain
Locations
  • Epidemiologic Reviews (publishedVersion, public-domain)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
  • HighWire Press Open Archive (submittedVersion)
Funders
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (IK2 HX000745)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Homelessness and Social Issues
  • Social Sciences › Education › Education and Military Integration
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Criminal Justice and Corrections Analysis
Keywords
veteran homelessness, risk factors, substance use disorders, mental illness, low income, social isolation, adverse childhood experiences, incarceration, all-volunteer force, military service
MeSH terms
Ill-Housed Persons, Humans, Risk Factors, United States, Veterans

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