https://aub.ie/MilitaryREACH-Tsai2015

Tsai, J., Rosenheck, R. A., Kasprow, W. J., & Kane, V. (2015). Characteristics and use of services among literally homeless and unstably housed U.S. veterans with custody of minor children. Psychiatric Services, 66(10), 1083–1090. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ps.201400300

Homelessness among veterans with young children is not well understood. Specifically, there is a lack of understanding regarding how the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provides services to homeless veterans with children. This study used secondary data drawn from the Homeless Operations Management and Evaluation System (HOMES) to examine the extent to which housing status (literally homeless vs. unstably housed, imminent risk of losing housing), gender, and child custody were associated with physical and mental health conditions as well as admission into housing programs among veterans referred to VA homeless programs. In total, data from 89,142 veterans (men, n = 81,046, women, n = 8,096; literally homeless, n = 67,410; unstably housed, n = 21,732; custody of minor children, n = 11,777) were included in the analyses. The results revealed that gender and child custody (but not housing differences) played an integral role in health conditions, such that both men and women with custody of minor children reported few physical and mental health conditions

https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ps.201400300

Children
Mental health
Veterans

Multiple branches

Veteran

Veteran

Adulthood (18 yrs & older)
Young adulthood (18 - 29 yrs)
Thirties (30 - 39 yrs)
Middle age (40 - 64 yrs)

Cross-Sectional Study
Quantitative Study
Secondary Analysis

Tsai, Jack, Rosenheck, Robert A., Kasprow, Wesley J., Kane, Vincent

Objective: The study examined the number of homeless veterans with minor children in their custody (“children in custody”), compared sociodemographic and clinical characteristics among homeless veterans with and without children in custody, and observed differences in referral and admission patterns among veterans with and without children in custody for a variety of U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) programs for homeless veterans. Methods: Data were obtained from the VA Homeless Operations Management and Evaluation System for 89,142 literally homeless and unstably housed veterans. Sociodemographic, housing, health, and psychosocial characteristics of veterans were analyzed. Results: Among literally homeless veterans, 9% of men and 30% of women had children in custody; among unstably housed veterans, 18% of men and 45% of women had children in custody. Both male and female veterans with children in custody were younger and less likely to have chronic general medical conditions and psychiatric disorders compared with other veterans, but, notably, 11% of homeless veterans with children in custody had psychotic disorders. Veterans with children in custody were more likely than other veterans to be referred and admitted to the VA’s permanent supported housing program, and women were more likely than men to be admitted to the program. Conclusions: A substantial proportion of homeless veterans served by the VA have severe mental illness and children in custody, which raises concerns about the parenting environment for their children. Particular focus should be directed at VA’s supported-housing program, and the practical and ethical implications of serving homeless parents and their children need to be considered.

American Psychiatric Association

Article
REACH Publication

Department of Psychiatry, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Connecticut Healthcare System, JT
Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, JT
Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, RAR
Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center, VA New England Healthcare System, RAR
Northeast Program Evaluation Center, WJK
Lebanon VA Medical Center, VK
National Center for Homelessness Among Veterans, VK