Disparities in housing status among veterans with general medical, cognitive, and behavioral health conditions.

OBJECTIVE

The study explored disparities in housing status among veterans with general medical, cognitive, and behavioral health conditions.

METHODS

Multinomial mixed-effects models estimated the relationship between medical, cognitive, and behavioral health comorbidities and housing instability among veterans enrolled in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) (N=1,582,125) who responded to the Homelessness Screening Clinical Reminder for homelessness and risk during a three-month period.

RESULTS

Veterans were two or more times as likely to screen positive for homelessness or risk if they had a diagnosis of a cognitive or behavioral health conditions in the study. Findings related to general medical conditions were inconsistent.

CONCLUSIONS

The study found disparities in housing instability among VHA outpatients with cognitive and behavioral health conditions, suggesting the need to identify veterans with these conditions experiencing housing instability and the need to develop appropriate interventions to mitigate homelessness or risk.