The role of eviction in veterans’ homelessness recidivism^*

ABSTRACT

Eviction is one of the leading causes of homelessness in the U.S.A. Though permanent supportive housing (PSH) helps participants maintain housing, some still leave due to eviction. This study aimed to determine whether eviction is an important predictor of recidivism and time to return to homelessness for participants exiting PSH. The characteristics and post-exit service use of 2802 Veteran PSH participants were analyzed based on exit reason. A Cox proportional hazards survival analysis modeled risk factors for returning to homelessness within 360 days of exit. Compared with other exiters, evicted Veterans remained in the program for less time, were less likely to be receiving service-connected compensation, and used more services – particularly mental health and substance use services – following their exit, and those who returned to homelessness did so more quickly. Identifying participants who might benefit from more intensive services, project-based housing, or income supports may prevent evictions and subsequent returns to homelessness.

KEYWORDS:

• Homeless
• eviction
• permanent supportive housing
• SMI
• SUD
• housing instability

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes on contributors

Ms Cusack coordinated the HUD-VASH Exit Study through the VA National Center on Homelessness Among Veterans to identify barriers for homeless Veterans accessing public housing. She now manages a study on identifying and measuring risk for homelessness among Veterans and assessing the effectiveness of the VA Homelessness Screening Clinical Reminder through the VA Center for Health Equity Research and Promotion.

Dr Montgomery is an investigator with the VA National Center on Homelessness among Veterans. Her work emphasizes homelessness prevention, interventions to end homelessness among high-need populations, and the demography and epidemiology of homelessness among Veterans. She led the development and implementation of the VA Homelessness Screening Clinical Reminder, which has been deployed across the VA healthcare system.

ORCID

Meagan Cusack http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2622-4566

Notes

* The contents of this paper do not represent the views of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs or the United States Government.

Additional information

Funding

Research for this paper was supported by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), National Center on Homelessness Among Veterans and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Office of Policy Development and Research.