Canadian female Veterans are more likely to experience homelessness than male Veterans. To learn why and find the best ways to help female Veterans and prevent future homelessness, the Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs called for more research to be carried out in this area.

What is this Research About?

This research takes a closer look at the lived experiences of homeless female Veterans as outlined in existing literature. This is the first step of a larger research project to identify factors associated with homelessness among Canadian female Veterans, and to respond with targeted supports to help these Veterans.

What did the Researchers Do?

The researchers did an in-depth review of studies published between January 2000 and January 2022 that included at least one potential risk factor for homelessness. Of the 930+ papers and reports identified, 15 studies met the criteria for inclusion and were analyzed for this research project. All 15 studies were carried out in the United States, with sample sizes ranging from five homeless female Veterans to 601,892 military personnel.

What did the Researchers Find?

According to the published studies, many factors that occur across various points in one’s life can contribute to homelessness. For female Veterans, factors were identified for the following four time periods:

1. Before Military Service (Pre-Service)
   Adverse childhood events (ACE) such as abuse, family upheaval or death of a parent or sibling, were the most common pre-service factors among homeless female Veterans. Those who experienced an ACE said it left a lifelong impression and many:
   • joined the military as a way to escape; and
   • felt as though these experiences contributed to their state of homelessness
2. During Military Service
   Military sexual trauma (MST), including sexual harassment and rape while in service, was the most common theme among homeless female Veterans, appearing in seven of the 15 studies. One study found that female Veterans who had experienced MST were 4.4 times more likely to be homeless. Female Veterans who experienced MST:
   • were “haunted” by the experiences; and
   • said it led to substance abuse, mental health illnesses, medical problems, and a lack of social support which ultimately contributed to their homelessness
3. After Military Service (Post-Service)
   Some experiences that occurred after female Veterans left the military increased their risk of homelessness such as:
   • Diagnosis of physical & mental health conditions: some studies found that female Veterans with physical and/or mental health conditions were 2 to 3 times more likely to be homeless than those not experiencing poor health.
   • Substance use and abuse: several studies reported that Veterans experiencing homelessness were more likely to have substance use and abuse issues than those who are not homeless. Further, these Veterans recognized that their substance abuse was a significant contributor to their state of homelessness.
   • Intimate partner violence (IPV) and relationship: several studies discussed how violence and abuse from a trusted partner contributed to the homelessness of female Veterans, with some choosing homelessness over staying in an unsafe situation. One study reported that those who experienced IPV in the previous year were twice as likely to experience housing instability when compared to those who had not experienced IPV.
4. Throughout their Entire Lives (Across the Life Course)
   Two themes were consistent across the life course of homeless female Veterans:
   • Race & racism: Veterans identifying as African American were more likely to experience homelessness than White Veterans. Experiences of racism occurred both in their childhood and during their military career where racial jokes were “the norm”.
   • Sexism and gender discrimination: multiple studies showed that female Veterans had a higher prevalence and risk of homelessness compared to their male counterparts.

What do these Findings Mean?

The findings of this literature review revealed that:

• female Veterans face several risk factors throughout their lifetimes that could lead to homelessness such as adverse childhood events, abuse, family upheaval, military sexual trauma, intimate partner violence, substance use, physical and mental health issues, race and racism, and gender discrimination.
• future research should consider the entire life course and employ Sex and Gender Based Analysis

Source

Michael Short, Stephanie Felder, Lisa Garland Baird, & Brenda Gamble. Female Veterans’ Risk Factors for Homelessness: A Scoping Review. Journal of Military, Veteran and Family Health. September 2023. https://doi.org/10.3138/jmvfh-2022-0069