title: Perceptions of homelessness in older homeless veterans, VA homeless program staff liaisons, and housing intervention providers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To understand the needs and challenges encountered by older homeless veterans.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted six focus groups of older veterans, two focus groups, and one semi-structured interview of VA staff liaisons, and two focus groups and one semi-structured interview of housing intervention providers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Major themes for older veterans: 1) negative homelessness experience; 2) benefits of the structured transitional housing program; 3) importance of peer outreach; and 4) need for age-tailored job placement programs. Major themes for VA staff liaison/housing intervention providers: 1) belief that the transitional housing program has made a positive change; 2) need for individualized criteria to address the unique needs of veterans; 3) distinct differences between older and younger homeless veterans; 4) outreach services; 5) permanent housing issues; and 6) coordination of services.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Compared with younger veterans, older veterans have less social support, greater employment and health challenges, and, perhaps greater motivation to change.
authors.affiliation: School of Aging Studies, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33612, USA. vmolinari@usf.edu
authors.forename: Victor A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Molinari
authors.forename: Lisa M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: Kathryn A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Frahm
authors.forename: John A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Schinka
authors.forename: Roger
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Casey
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006703:Ill-Housed Persons / Q000523:psychology*; D006798:Housing; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020380:Needs Assessment; D011638:Public Housing; D012944:Social Support; D012947:Social Work / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D014481:United States; D014493:United States Department of Veterans Affairs / Q000458:organization & administration*; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology*