Tsai Jack, Szymkowiak Dorota
Homeless Programs Office, Department of Veterans Affairs, Washington, DC, USA.
School of Public Health, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA.
Adm Policy Ment Health. 2025 Sep 17. doi: 10.1007/s10488-025-01475-6.
This study aimed to identify predictors of homelessness among transitioning service members (TSM) in the military. Data from the U.S. Departments of Defense (DoD) and Veterans Affairs (VA) were analyzed. A total of 211,530 TSM discharged from military service between August 2022 to December 2023. Military and clinical characteristics of TSM were examined along with any indicator of homelessness in VA records within 1 and 2 years after military discharge. Multivariable logistic regression and survival analyses were conducted. Results found that the incidence of homelessness among TSM was 1.85% within 1 year of military discharge and 2.95% within 2 years of military discharge. Among the strongest predictors of homelessness, TSM who were non-Hispanic black (aOR = 3.16, 95% CI = 2.92-3.41) or who had reasons for military discharge related to hardship (aOR = 3.26, 95% CI = 2.54-4.118), mental health/substance use (aOR = 3.89, 95% CI = 3.42-4.41), or criminal activity (aOR = 4.24, 95% CI = 3.76-4.78) were at risk of homelessness within 1 year of military discharge. Similar predictors were found among TSM for homelessness in year 2 suggesting the risk factors remain the same over time. In conclusion, some of the risks for homelessness may be ascertained from TSM while they are still in the military. Special support for TSM who are discharged due to hardship, mental health/substance use problems, and criminal activity may help prevent homelessness among veterans.
本研究旨在确定军队中过渡服役人员（TSM）无家可归的预测因素。分析了来自美国国防部（DoD）和退伍军人事务部（VA）的数据。共有211,530名TSM在2022年8月至2023年12月期间退伍。研究了TSM的军事和临床特征以及退伍后1年和2年内VA记录中任何无家可归的指标。进行了多变量逻辑回归和生存分析。结果发现，TSM在退伍后1年内无家可归的发生率为1.85%，在退伍后2年内为2.95%。在无家可归的最强预测因素中，非西班牙裔黑人TSM（调整后比值比[aOR]=3.16，95%置信区间[CI]=2.92-3.41）或因困难原因退伍的TSM（aOR=3.26，95%CI=2.54-4.118）、心理健康/物质使用问题（aOR=3.89，95%CI=3.42-4.41）或犯罪活动（aOR=4.24，95%CI=3.76-4.78）在退伍后1年内有面临无家可归的风险。在第2年的TSM中也发现了类似的无家可归预测因素，表明这些风险因素随时间保持不变。总之，在TSM仍在军队服役时，就可以确定一些无家可归的风险。为因困难、心理健康/物质使用问题和犯罪活动而退伍的TSM提供特别支持，可能有助于防止退伍军人无家可归。
