Veterans Homelessness and the Housing Environment

Does the housing environment effect homelessness among veterans? The purpose of this paper is to investigate the possible correlation between housing environment and homelessness among veterans. In 2014, veterans account for nine percent of the total adult population, but veterans account for 11.3 percent of the adult homeless population in the United States. Nationally the percentage of veteran homelessness has being decreasing; however, in Washington State veteran homelessness has increased by 8.7 percent from 2013 to 2014. We examine the effects of the distribution of veterans and the housing environment on rates of veteran homelessness. It is true that veterans have many impediments that hinder their well-being, hence, most people concentrate their effort to understand this issue. However, the contribution of housing availability and quality to veteran’s homelessness has been neglected. We fill this gap in the research with tract and county level analysis of the distribution of the veteran population, and the characteristics of the housing stock. We use data from the American Community Survey (United States Census Bureau), the Department of Veterans Affairs, and the Department of Housing and Development. We show that, above and beyond known predictors of homelessness, such as employment status and disability status, the distribution of the veteran population and the characteristics of the housing stock have independent effects on veteran homelessness.