A Comparison of Homeless Male Veterans in Metropolitan and Micropolitan Areas in Nebraska: A Methodological Caveat.
This study explored differences between homeless male veterans in metropolitan and micropolitan cities in Nebraska on sociodemographic, housing, clinical, and psychosocial characteristics as well as health service use. A convenience sample of 151 homeless male veterans (112 metropolitan, 39 micropolitan) were recruited from Veterans Affairs facilities and area shelters in Omaha, Lincoln, Grand Island, and Hastings in Nebraska. Research staff conducted structured interviews with homeless veterans. Results showed that compared to homeless veterans in metropolitans, those in micropolitans were more likely to be White, unmarried, living in transitional settings, and were far more transient but reported greater social support and housing satisfaction. Veterans in micropolitans also reported more medical problems, diagnoses of anxiety and personality disorders, and unexpectedly, were more likely to report using various health services and less travel time for services. Together, these findings suggest access to homeless and health services for veterans in micropolitan areas may be facilitated through Veterans Affairs facilities and community providers that work in close proximity to one another. Many homeless veterans in these areas are transient, making them a difficult population to study and serve. Innovative ways to provide outreach to homeless veterans in micropolitan and more rural areas are needed.
Veterans Affairs New England Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center, 950 Campbell Ave., 151D, West Haven, CT, 06516, USA. Jack.Tsai@yale.edu.|Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA. Jack.Tsai@yale.edu.
Jack
J
Tsai
Veterans Affairs Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System, Omaha, NE, USA.|Department of Psychiatry, Creighton University, Omaha, NE, USA.
Sriram
S
Ramaswamy
Veterans Affairs Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System, Omaha, NE, USA.|Department of Psychiatry, Creighton University, Omaha, NE, USA.
Subhash C
SC
Bhatia
Veterans Affairs New England Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center, 950 Campbell Ave., 151D, West Haven, CT, 06516, USA.|Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.|Yale School of Public Health, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA.
Robert A
RA
Rosenheck
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001008:Anxiety Disorders; D002947:Cities; D006296:Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006304:Health Status; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006703:Ill-Housed Persons / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006798:Housing; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D017057:Medically Uninsured; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009329:Nebraska / Q000453:epidemiology; D012423:Rural Health; D012944:Social Support; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D014171:Transients and Migrants / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014493:United States Department of Veterans Affairs; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
Health services research; Homelessness; Rural health; Veterans