1. Dr. Elena Klaw Psych 190: Warriors at Home

2.  Risk factors for homelessness in vets  Rates of homelessness  Addressing risk factors

3.  Why might veterans be at particular risk for homelessness?

4.  Unemployment upon return  Higher rates of divorce, family conflict  Trauma related mental illness  Substance abuse  Intimate violence  Need to complete education  Need to translate military experience and skills (MOS) to civilian resume  Low social support

5.  Veterans are overrepresented as homeless in the US.  Vets are at greater risk than nonveterans of becoming homeless.  Among the 136,000 homeless veterans in 2009, 53% had a chronic health condition.  Chronic health conditions can be causes or consequences of homelessness.  Public health: Need to understand risk factors for homelessness and the health needs of homeless vets to design effective prevention and intervention.

6.  Men aged 45-to 54-year-old appeared to be at the highest risk of homelessness whereas for women, homeless risk declined with age.  Women are most likely to be homeless when they are heading families with young children.  Seems recent tour women vets are more likely to be homeless than older women vets and are in need of reintegration efforts.  Being African American increases homelessness risk.  Being a vet increases homelessness risk above and beyond effects of poverty.  Poverty alleviation efforts for vets in poverty such as utilities and housing payments are essential.  Other ideas?