The proportion of veterans among homeless men.

Abstract

This study used data from four surveys conducted in 1986/87 to identify age-race cohorts of homeless men in which veterans are overrepresented. The overall proportion of veterans among homeless men (41%) was somewhat higher than that in the general population (34%). This overrepresentation is largely attributable to the disproportionate representation of veterans in the youngest age cohort (20 to 34 years) of homeless White men. Veterans in this group are 4.76 times more likely to be homeless than nonveterans. Other national data on this cohort reveal higher rates of unemployment, substance abuse, and antisocial personality among veterans than among nonveterans.