title: Factors associated with receipt of pension and compensation benefits for homeless veterans in the VBA/VHA Homeless Outreach Initiative.
abstract: Public support payments may facilitate exit from homelessness for persons with mental illness. We examined data from 10,641 homeless veterans contacted from October 1, 1995 to September 30, 2002 in a collaborative outreach program designed to facilitate access to Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) disability benefits. Those who were awarded benefits (22% of contacted veterans) were more likely to report disability, poor to fair self-rated health, and were more likely to have used VA services in the past. Thus, this program achieved only modest success and was most successful with veterans who were already receiving VA services and who might have received benefits even without the outreach effort.
authors.affiliation: Northeast Program Evaluation Center, VA Connecticut Healthcare System, N.E.P.E.C./182, 950 Campbell Ave., West Haven, CT 06516, USA.
authors.forename: Joyce H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Robert A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Rosenheck
authors.forename: Greg A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Greenberg
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Seibyl
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003159:Community-Institutional Relations; D035881:Compensation and Redress; D003376:Counseling / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006703:Ill-Housed Persons / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010415:Pensions / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014481:United States; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014729:Veterans Disability Claims / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*