Indicators of chronic homelessness among veterans.
OBJECTIVE
This study sought to develop a set of indicators of chronic homelessness as a basis for better understanding and treatment of the homeless veteran population.


METHODS
Chi square analysis and the t test or Mann-Whitney U test were used to compare characteristics of veterans who reported long-term homelessness (more than 12 months total since age 18) with those of veterans who reported short-term homelessness (12 months or less). Subjects were 343 homeless male veterans receiving treatment for physical, mental, or substance abuse disorders at the West Los Angeles site of the Domiciliary Care for Homeless Veterans Program. Variables included history of homelessness, employment history, physical and mental health, substance abuse history, social and financial support, criminal history, age, ethnic group, education, military service, and program discharge status.


RESULTS
Veterans experiencing long-term homelessness were more likely to be white, to have had a longer period of recent homelessness and a greater number of homeless episodes, to have a poor employment history, to have symptoms of mental and substance abuse disorders, and to have weaker social support.


CONCLUSIONS
Results show that variables besides duration of lifetime homelessness are important indicators of chronic homelessness.
Wenzel
S L
SL
Department of Sociology, University of California, Los Angeles 90024.
Gelberg
L
L
Bakhtiar
L
L
Caskey
N
N
Hardie
E
E
Redford
C
C
Sadler
N
N
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002908:Chronic Disease; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006703:Ill-Housed Persons / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D015141:Los Angeles; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010343:Patient Admission; D012050:Rehabilitation, Vocational / Q000523:psychology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012917:Social Adjustment; D012944:Social Support; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology*