Title
The association between HIV status and homelessness among Veterans in care
UMMS Affiliation
Departmen of Quantitative Health Sciences
Publication Date
2015-3
Document Type
Article
Disciplines
Community Health and Preventive Medicine | Community Psychology | Health Services Research | Military and Veterans Studies | Virus Diseases | Women's Health
Abstract
Veterans seeking care in the Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care System (VA) are more vulnerable to HIV infection and homelessness. However, there is little scholarship on the association between serostatus and homelessness among VA veterans. We examined this association in the Veterans Aging Cohort Study, a sample of 6,819 HIV-positive and HIV-negative veterans attending 8 VAs across the country. We utilized logistic models regressing shelter use in the last month on correlates. HIV and homelessness prevalence was higher than in general veteran populations. Being HIV-positive was protective against homelessness. Substance use, hazardous alcohol use, depression, schizophrenia, and being African American and male increased risk of homelessness. HIV-positive status reduced the homelessness risk posed by substance use, especially among African American substance users. However, women veterans with HIV were at higher risk of homelessness than noninfected women veterans. Implications for policies on veteran homelessness and housing for people with HIV are discussed.
DOI of Published Version
10.1002/jcop.21673
Source
Ghose, T., Gordon, A. J., Metraux, S., Mattocks, K. M., Goulet, J. L., Rodriguez-Barradas, M. C., Day, N. L., Blackstock, O. and Justice, A. C. (2015), The association between HIV status and homelessness among Veterans in care. J. Community Psychol., 43: 189–198. doi: 10.1002/jcop.21673
Journal/Book/Conference Title
Journal of Community Psychology
Repository Citation
Ghose T, Gordon AJ, Metraux S, Mattocks KM, Goulet JL, Rodriguez-Barradas MC, Day NL, Blackstock O, Justice AC. (2015). The association between HIV status and homelessness among Veterans in care. Women’s Health Research Faculty Publications. https://doi.org/10.1002/jcop.21673. Retrieved from https://escholarship.umassmed.edu/wfc_pp/597