title: National comparison of literally homeless male and female VA service users: entry characteristics, clinical needs, and service patterns.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although there are growing numbers of homeless female U.S. veterans, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has traditionally served a predominantly male population; thus, it is important to examine differences between homeless female and male veterans in their service needs and the current provision of VA homeless services.
  
  
  METHODS
  A national registry of 119,947 users of VA homeless services from 2011 to 2012 was used to 1) estimate the proportion of female veterans among VA homeless service users, 2) examine the proportion of VA homeless service users who are literally homeless by gender, and 3) report differences between female and male VA homeless service users who are literally homeless on sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, as well as on outreach, referral, and admission patterns for an array of specialized VA services.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of VA homeless service users, 8% were female compared with 7% among all homeless veterans, 6% among all VA service users, and 7% among all veterans. Of female VA homeless service users, 54% were literally homeless, slightly fewer than the 59% of male VA homeless service users. Comparing literally homeless VA service users, females were younger, 21% more had dependent children, 8% more were diagnosed with non-military-related posttraumatic stress disorder, and 19% to 20% more were referred and admitted to VA's supported housing program than males.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Female veterans use VA homeless services at a rate similar to their use of general VA services and they have unique needs, especially for child care, which may require additional specialized resources.
authors.affiliation: Veterans Affairs New England Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center, West Haven, Connecticut; Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut. Electronic address: Jack.Tsai@yale.edu.
authors.forename: Jack
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut; Veterans Affairs Northeast Program Evaluation Center, West Haven, Connecticut.
authors.forename: Wesley J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Kasprow
authors.affiliation: National Center for Homelessness Among Veterans, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kane
authors.affiliation: Veterans Affairs New England Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center, West Haven, Connecticut; Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut; Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut.
authors.forename: Robert A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Rosenheck
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006703:Ill-Housed Persons / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000534:rehabilitation; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011638:Public Housing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014481:United States; D014493:United States Department of Veterans Affairs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*