Understanding Veteran Homelessness: Does Improved Access Affect Veteran Homelessness?

The Veterans Affairs Health Administration is the largest integrated health care system in the United States. As such, it faces serious challenges in providing adequate accessibility to its health care resources. This research examines one aspect of accessibility, number of facilities, and its effect on veteran homelessness. The data is examined using U.S. Housing and Urban Development Continuums of Care (CoCs). These are designated areas across the U.S. that coordinate local, state, federal, and nonprofit homeless services in their selected area. The number of VA health facilities was compared with the share of veteran homelessness to total homelessness in a CoC. It was found that while the number of facilities does not seem to have an effect on veteran homelessness, a variety of other factors do seem to indicate where veteran homelessness may be higher