Overrepresentation of Women Veterans Among Homeless Women

OBJECTIVES: This study estimated the proportion of veterans among homeless women and their risk of homelessness relative to that of nonveterans. METHODS: Data came from 2 surveys of homeless women (1 clinical and 1 nonclinical) and 1 survey of domiciled women. RESULTS: The proportion of veterans (4.4%, 3.1%) among homeless women was greater than the proportion among domiciled women (1.3%, 1.2%). When we computed odds ratios for being a veteran among homeless women compared with nonhomeless women, homeless women were significantly more likely than nonhomeless women to be veterans. CONCLUSIONS: Women veterans are at greater risk for homelessness than are nonveterans. Further study is needed to determine whether increased risks for veterans are a product of military service or reflect volunteers' self-selection into the armed forces.