Understanding housing needs of veterans

PDF - Report

In 2019, we commissioned research examining the diverse needs of veterans in order to inform NHS programs. The review focused on Canada, but researchers extended the search to international sources where relevant.

This review covers the following key elements:

identified housing needs and the extent to which these needs are met/unmet
- housing features
- home supports
- locational features
- other needs specific to each group
challenges and barriers in accessing suitable housing
Intersectionality with other identities (e.g., race, gender, age, family status, indigeneity, health, location)
the potential and proven solutions for meeting housing needs

Key findings:

Veterans with cognitive and behavioral health issues experience greater difficulty accessing and maintaining housing after returning to civilian life.
Homeless veterans have augmented health risks, complicated by the injuries sustained during service, or those emerging post-service, like PTSD. Housing options need to take into account accessibility, as well as coordinated service provision for mental and physical health.
Women face unique challenges due to trauma from sexual assault they may have suffered during service. Women also often receive lower wages compared to men counterparts in civilian jobs complicating access to affordable housing.
A Housing First approach does not require sobriety or compliance with medical or psychiatric treatment to directly access permanent housing.