Examining the risk factors and needs of veterans involuntarily doubling-up with family or friends

ABSTRACT

Prior research has found that individuals who are involuntarily doubling-up are at greater risk of experiencing homelessness and continued housing instability. Using intake assessment data from community organizations that provide homelessness prevention services to Veterans, this study examines the risk factors and needs of those living in the home of another involuntarily on a temporary basis to inform programs aimed at addressing barriers to stable independent housing. Those with a poor housing history, physical disability, chronic health condition, mental health issue, or substance abuse problem have greater odds of living in the home of another involuntarily. The needs of those involuntarily doubling-up could be addressed through increased connections to healthcare, housing assistance, child care, and basic necessities.

KEYWORDS:

• Homelessness
• housing instability
• doubling-up
• prevention

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Health Services Research and Development under Grant [IIR-13-334]. The views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs or the U.S. Government.

Notes on contributors

Meagan Cusack

Ms. Meagan Cusack is a project manager with the VA Center for Health Equity Research and Promotion (CHERP), where she coordinates and conducts mixed methods research integrating Veteran and stakeholder voices with secondary data.

Ann Elizabeth Montgomery

Dr. Ann Elizabeth Montgomery is an investigator at the VA National Center on Homelessness Among Veterans and the Birmingham VA Medical Center and is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Health Behavior at the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Public Health. Her research focuses on identifying Veterans at risk of housing instability and interventions to prevent and end homelessness.