Lived experience of homelessness among Veterans who have served in combat roles during foreign wars

Abstract:Evidence supports that combat veterans remain at a higher risk for poverty, unemployment, and homelessness. Following signed informed consent, a demographic questionnaire was utilized to capture basic data specific to age, gender, race, education, children, arrest history, marital, socioeconomic, and housing status of (N=11) homeless combat veterans (HCVs). Utilizing van Manen phenomenology as the framework, scripted, qualitative, open-ended questions were utilized as framework for eleven 60-minute recorded interviews. Dialogue captured data specific to the first-hand experiences, and worldly understanding of homelessness within the HCV population. Demographic information was reviewed, coded into variables, and entered into an Excel worksheet. Each interview was also reviewed, transcribed, coded into variables, and entered into Excel worksheets specific to the topics within the interview questions: military and combat, personal, physical and mental health issues, combat-related injuriesand/or illnesses, alcohol and/or substance abuse, Veterans Health Administration (VHA) involvement, disabilities, and homelessness experiences. Data was then manually examined and compared for differences and similarities within the shared phenomena of each HCV. Themes were developed from the data via manual content analysis. Interview dialogue described meaningful, intangible, original experiences congruent with van Manen phenomenology. The themes identified within the data highlighted a cyclical pattern of combat-related injuries and illnesses as they relate to veteran homelessness. Subsequently, the themes were utilized to explain the lived experience of combat veterans upon transition and reintegration to civilian life as they relate to homelessness, identify the personal factors, physiological and psychological health challenges that precipitate homelessness within the population, describe the lived experiences of homeless combat veterans confronted with chronic combatrelated physical and mental health illnesses and/or injuries, as well as how combat-related injuries and illnesses relate to veteran homelessness. The experience of combat-related physical and mental health illnesses and injuries often contributes to the likelihood of homelessness within the HCV population. Combat-related physical and mental health diagnoses remain vastly understudied resulting in a higher risk for homelessness. Continued research similar to this study will offer improved comprehension of healthcare affecting the ability of combat veterans to maintain positive and productive civilian lives upon discharge from the U.S. military.