Housing outcomes among homeless-experienced veterans engaged in vocational services.

Abstract

Though unemployment and homelessness are closely intertwined, vocational services are rarely prioritized for homeless-experienced individuals engaging in housing services. Our goal was to examine associations between vocational service use and housing outcomes among homeless-experienced Veterans engaged in permanent supportive housing. We obtained data from Veterans Health Administration (VHA) medical record and homelessness registry data for homeless-experienced Veterans engaged in U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Greater Los Angeles' permanent supportive housing program from October 2016 to September 2017 (n = 1,200). We used multivariate logistic regression to examine whether vocational service use was associated with housing attainment and/or premature permanent supportive housing exits. We found that Veterans in permanent supportive housing who used vocational services were more likely to attain housing (OR = 2.52, p < .001) than their peers who did not use these services. There were no between-group differences in the odds of premature exits from the permanent supportive housing program (OR = 1.92, p = .425). Our study suggests that, among homeless-experienced Veterans engaged in permanent supportive housing programs, those who use vocational services potentially may be more likely to attain housing. However, future research can better elucidate the pathways underlying vocational service use and housing outcomes for individuals in permanent supportive housing programs. Greater integration of vocational services and permanent supportive housing programs, and encouragement of vocational service use may enhance housing outcomes among permanent supportive housing participants. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).