As in any other playoff, candidate rhetoric let loose during the U.S. presidential race can be tough. We’ve held a front row seat to the 2012 showdown for over a year, with tensions still rising as the general election looms nearer. Some of the barbs launched along the campaign trail have been laughable: Newt Gingrich’s television ad incriminating Mitt Romney for his ability to speak French comes to mind. Others are not. The dialogue surrounding U.S. poverty and inequality, two issues that are hotter than ever during a deep recession that the nation has shown incapable of simply shaking off [...]
Veterans
Suicidal Behavior in a National Sample of Older Homeless Veterans
This study examines self-reported suicidal behavior of older homeless veterans to establish frequencies and predictors of recent suicidal behaviors, and their impact on transitional housing interventions. They found that approximately 12 percent of homeless veterans reported suicidal ideation before program admission, and 3 percent reported attempting suicide in the 30 days before admission. The... »
How Do Homeless Veterans Differ from the Rest of the Homeless?
Although veterans have been found to be at greater risk of homelessness than non-veterans, it is not clear whether those who are homeless have more severe health problems or poorer outcomes in community-based supported housing. This observational study compared 162 chronically homeless veterans to 388 non-veterans. Results showed that veterans tended to be older,... »
Number of homeless veterans falls, but for how long?
The population of homeless veterans declined 12 percent last year, thanks to unprecedented efforts by federal agencies and federally-funded community service programs. Now more veterans are able to receive housing, counseling, transportation, and job opportunities than in recent years. However, officials worry that budget cuts and lack of willpower could impede efforts to sustain... »
Factor Structure and Risk Factors for the Health Status of Homeless Veterans
Homeless veterans have numerous health problems previously categorized in four major subgroups; addiction, psychosis, vascular disorders, and generalized medical and psychiatric illness. This paper looks at comorbid conditions, often involving a combination of psychiatric and medical disorders, and concludes that the health status of homeless veterans is a complex condition, but has a clear... »