Borja, Ale; Crooms, Alyson; Escamilla, Margie

MC3360.005, Fall 2015, Wilson

11/09/15
Veteran Homelessness: Contributing Factors and Programs
Starlight Research Group

Table of Contents
I.

Introduction of Statement of Situation

pg.3

II.

Research Topic

pg.3

III.

Literature Review and Secondary Analysis

pg.4

IV.

Objectives

pg.34

V.

Research Questions

pg.34

VI.

Research Methodology and Design

pg.34

VII.

A. Qualitative Research:

pg.35

1. Observations
2. In-depth Interviews
B. Quantitative Research

pg.46

1. Survey Questionnaire
2. Social Media
VIII.

Limitations of the Research

pg.68

IX.

Managerial Implications

pg.69

X.

Analysis and Results

pg.69

XI.

Appendix

pg.72

XII.

Bibliography

pg.72

2 | Page

I. Introduction and Statement of Situation

Starlight research group aims to discover the various factors that contribute to
homelessness among war veterans. Starlight is interested in this topic as veterans are among the
most frequently found demographics within the homeless community. As more and more laws
are passed that affect how much and the ways in which an individual can help the homeless, it is
important to target the specific factors which contribute to homelessness as a whole. Many
non-profit organizations have dealt with and sought to help the homeless population as they
inhabit our streets and our neighborhoods, and many individuals have seen first-hand the effect
homelessness can have on an individual. If we are to find out what factors contribute specifically
to veteran homelessness, we may be able to get a large portion of our homeless off the streets
and into homes.
The three factors which Starlight research group plans to highlight are mental and
physical barriers, substance abuse, and lack of income related to limited education and lack of
transferrable skills from the military into civilian life. Our key focus is to discover the extent to
which these factors contribute to war veteran homelessness, which programs are in place to
alleviate these factors, and how effective these programs have proven to be.

II. Research Topic

According to Veterans Inc., veterans make up 26% of the homeless population, despite
making up only 11% of the adult civilian population, and veterans are twice as likely as any
other adult American to become homeless. There are many factors which contribute to
3 | Page

homelessness among war veterans. The National Coalition for the Homeless states that 76% of
homeless veterans experience alcohol, drug, or mental health problems.
This type of research is important for upcoming public relations professionals who may
be interested in the nonprofit sector of the industry, which includes big names like the Salvation
Army and Goodwill.

III. Literature Review and Secondary Analysis

The following literature reviews and analyses act as aids in Starlights research. They
provide further insight into our research questions.

Literature Review 1
Title: Identifying Mental and Physical Health Correlates of Homelessness Among First-time
and Chronically Homeless Veterans
Authors: Suzannah K. Creech, Eric Johnson, Matthew Borgia, Claire Bourgault, Stephen
Redihan, Thomas P. OToole

This was a study published in the Journal of Community Psychology, Vol 43(5) in July of
2015. The authors were Suzannah K. Creech, Erin Johnson, Matthew Borgia, Claire Bourgault,
Stephen Redihan, and Thomas P. O'Toole. The authors wished to study physical and mental
health factors among veterans and their association with recurrent or chronic homelessness. This
article was created for those who provide treatment for veterans with more severe histories of
4 | Page

homeless. The authors believe treatment may need to be substantially different between veterans
who are experiencing first-time homelessness and veterans who suffer from chronic or repeated
homelessness. This is an important article for the Public Relations industry, particularly for PR
professionals who may work in the non-profit or government sector.
Research shows that 14% of the countrys homeless population is made up by military
veterans (Fargo et al., 2011). Many programs that aim to alleviate the factors that may lead to
veteran homelessness have propelled a literature study on understanding how these factors
correlate with housing status. However, these studies have not succeeded in highlighting the
differences between factors that lead to permanent or long-term homelessness and those that
cause an isolated instance of homelessness. The aim of the study was to focus on four main
factors that contribute to veteran homelessness (substance abuse, mental health problems,
medical problems, and pain problems), and their differences among first-time homeless veterans
and those who suffer from recurrent homelessness.
The authors used and cited 23 other works and previous studies in their article. The
authors used these prior studies to establish a hypothesis. In addition to these previous studies,
the authors used demographic statistics and distributions to examine differences between
first-time and repeated homelessness. Next, they took frequencies of substance abuse, mental
and physical health, and pain levels and compared them to cases of single episodes of
homelessness and cases of chronic homelessness.
No theory was used as the base of this study.
The authors hypothesized that substance abuse and SMI (serious mental illness) would be
5 | Page

associated with chronic or recurring homelessness. The authors sought to analyze the measure of
association between several common chronic medical conditions and housing status. The authors
also sought to study the role of various pain disorders in association with homelessness.
Demographic, mental, and physical health data were gathered from structured
assessments administered by a registered nurse at a VA hospital between January 2007 and
January 2011. No medical records were given. Participants eligible for the study were required to
be unsheltered, staying in an emergency shelter, transitional housing unit, or living with family
or friends without contributing to rent or housing costs. Housing records of participants were
carefully obtained and reviewed at the point of intake. Participants were separated between
first-time and chronic victims of homelessness. Data taken from these assessments included
reasons for homelessness, self-reported health care needs, a review of symptoms, and a
prioritization of clinical needs based on the interview. This applied research was predominantly
quantitative, as many of the responses given were used to determine percentages of each factor
among first-time and recurring homelessness.
Data came from a single clinical center in the northeast, inhibiting sample size and
reliability of the results. The data also assumes similar available of housing options are found
elsewhere in the nation. The data was also patient-reported responses to a nurse-administered
questionnaire, so the data may have been under or over-reported.
Facilitators of charitable and government agencies whose aim is to reduce veteran
homelessness may use the findings of this study to better meet the distinct needs of homeless
veterans.
6 | Page

The authors found the average age among the homeless veterans to be 51.6, and there
was no substantial difference between the two housing groups. The first-time homeless group
was less likely to be Caucasian and more likely to report housing costs as the main reason for
homelessness. Other factors found to contribute to first-time homelessness included
post-incarceration and self-diagnosed mental health disorders. As hypothesized, substance abuse,
mental health problems, or diagnosed bipolar disorder were significantly associated with chronic
homelessness. In contrast, physical health disorders, hypertension, heart disease, and joint pain
disorder were significantly associated with first-time homelessness.
These findings require further study and replication to be considered reliable, as they
were only conduction in one region of the U.S. in one VA hospital. The authors also believe that
further exploration of pain disorders as factors of veteran homelessness is warranted, as their
study was too simplistic in nature to accurately assess their significance. The preliminary
findings of the authors warrant further exploration of the difference between clinical needs of
those experiencing first-time or repeated homelessness. Studies suggest that the difference in
needs is substantial. The authors work argues for continued research to create specialized
services to match the distinctive needs of returning veterans.
I learned personally how research could be used to help an organization determine the
specific needs of its publics. If I were a public relations professional employed by the VA, I
would now know how the VA may better serve the Veterans in need and how to match their
specific requirements.

7 | Page

Literature Review 2
Title: Homelessness and Trauma Go Hand-in-hand: Pathways to Homelessness among Women
Veterans
Authors: Alison B. Hamilton, Ines Poza, Donna L. Washington

The purpose of my analysis of this peer-reviewed article was to further explore the
factors that contribute to homelessness among female veterans in particular. The article states
that women veterans are up to four times more likely to be homeless than non-veteran women.
This article was written in 2010 for the VA Center of Excellence for the Study of Healthcare
Provider Behavior by Alison B. Hamilton, PhD, Ines Poza, PhD, and Donna L. Washington,
MD. This article is intended for healthcare providers who wish to understand the unique needs of
female veterans.
More women are enrolling in the military than ever before, and current studies suggest
that homelessness among women veterans is on the rise. The authors found that while research
had been conducted in order to outline the ratio of male to female homeless veterans, little
research had been done to discover the specific factors that contribute to female veteran
homelessness. This literature aims to explore and define those factors.
The authors referred to 33 other articles in order to establish their research. Many of these
articles served to establish the basis of their research, which is that veteran homelessness among
women is on the rise. The remainder of the articles was used to compliment the 5 main factors
that the authors chose to focus on for the purposes of their research, which I will outline later in
8 | Page

this analysis.
No Theory Foundation was used for this journal article.
The authors stated that the purpose of their study was to examine pathways to
homelessness, as described by homeless women veterans and to identify critical junctures
where intervention- and possibly prevention- are warranted.
This applied research approach was mainly qualitative. The authors conducted 3 focus
groups in Los Angeles, California. These focus groups consisted of veteran women who had
spent at least one night of the previous 30 in a shelter or transitional residential facility, a hotel
paid for with a voucher, a car, an abandoned building, a nonresidential building, or another
non-dwelling, or on the street. Twelve women were recruited for each focus group. During the
focus groups, women were asked about their personal contexts, military experience, perceived
needs, use of VA and non-VA health care, and perceptions of VA services. The focus groups
were recorded and analyzed. The analysis of the focus groups were split into four stages:
Comparing incidents within categories, integrating categories, creating a theory for how the
categories relate to one another, and writing the theory. The qualitative data collected were
valid, but possibly not reliable, as all the data were collected from one city in one area of the
country, and results may be different in other parts of the country.
The authors did not state any limitations or disadvantages of their study. However, I
believe the lack of reliability on the part of the focus groups could be a weakness of their study.
The finding of this study may help VA hospitals or other services in place that are meant
to help veterans in transition better understand and meet the unique needs of female veterans.
9 | Page

The authors found 5 primary roots of the participants path toward homelessness:
1) Pre-military adversity (violence, abuse, or unstable housing)
2) Military trauma and/or substance use
3) Post-military interpersonal violence, abuse, and termination of intimate
relationships
4) Post-military mental illness, substance abuse, and/or medical issues
5) Unemployment
All participants listed 1 or more of these as their root for homelessness. The authors
noted that lack of education was not a root of homelessness. In fact, more than half the
participants had an Associates Degree or higher. Many of the women who experienced
post-military adversity, such as unemployment or the termination of intimate relationships,
attribute their post-military struggles to trauma they experienced during their service. Many of
the women also disclosed that they joined the military to escape abusive situations.
One notable finding of the study was that many of the women admitted to multiple points
where they did not report or seek help for detrimental trauma experiences. The authors
concluded that programs for transitioning veterans should include trauma-informed care, which
acknowledges traumatic experiences in the lives of veterans and incorporates recovery programs
for healing. Future studies may aim to discover the length to which trauma impacts
homelessness, and what kind of treatment would be most effective in preventing homelessness.
This is helpful for the purposes of my research as Starlight research group aims to not
only discover the factors which contribute to veteran homelessness, but ways in which to
10 | Page

eliminate or reduce these factors in the lives of veterans. By introducing trauma-informed care,
veterans who may fail to report or seek help for their trauma may discover how their trauma can
affect them long-term, and can find the help they need for their trauma.

Literature Review 3
Title: Assessing Health Care Needs Among Street Homelessness and Transitionally Housed
Adults
Authors: Blake Barrett, Sondra J. Fogel, Jack Garrett, and Scott M. Young

The purpose of my analysis of this academic journal is to assess the correlation between
physical disabilities and homelessness, as well as the effectiveness of services in place to help
homeless citizens with physical disabilities, as many returning veterans return with some sort of
short-term or long-term injury and/or disability. This article was published in June of 2011 in the
Journal of Social Service Research. The authors are Blake Barrett, Sondra J. Fogel, Jack Garrett,
and Scott M. Young. This article is meant for those who wish to learn about the need for and the
availability of services for physically disabled homeless citizens.
Over the past several years, our country has seen a decrease in resources available for an
increasing population of those in need of help. Considering the diverse and unique needs of our
homeless population, it is difficult to provide services that are advanced and effective enough to
help alleviate the vast amount factors that lead to and the results that come out of homelessness.

11 | Page

The purpose of this study was to assess the various health services received and needed among
homeless persons.
The authors of this article looked to other studies that have been conducted to examine
the needs of first-time homeless citizens and those who suffer from chronic homelessness. Two
recent studies found that many participants who suffer from chronic homelessness also suffer
from chronic health problems and do not have access to consistent healthcare. These studies also
identified respiratory disorders, cardiovascular disease, liver disease, dental and periodontal
disease, HIV/AIDS, and traumatic injuries to be of the top physical disabilities leading to
homelessness. Recent studies also point to several behavioral health care needs among homeless
persons, included schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and major depression. According to a study
from the International Journal of Epidemiology, among those who suffer from a substance
dependency, homeless persons are more likely to die from it than those who are not homeless.
On top of these disabilities that are prevalent among our homeless population, more than half
that population lack health insurance and face major barriers to obtaining it.
No Theory Foundation was used or mentioned by the authors.
This study took on the form of a needs assessment, and the purpose of the needs
assessment as outlined by authors was to help the coordinating agency identify unmet service
needs and gaps and develop new ideas for services to address the physical and behavioral health
needs of homeless persons in the county. The coordinating agency in this case refers to the
Continuum of Care for the large Southeastern county of Hillsborough, FL.

12 | Page

The survey was constructed from a previous needs assessment conducted by the Institute
for Urban Research and Development in the Western part of the United States. Study interviews
were administered in various parts of the county by trained volunteers. Interviewers read aloud
the questions to persons who confirmed their homelessness and recorded the responses. The
interviews assessed the person's history of homelessness, lifetime and current physical and
behavioral health needs and service receipts.
The study assessed the health needs of currently homeless persons and thus cannot speak
to the relationship between health needs and homelessness. Further, as the responses to the
questions were self-assessed, the results may not be entirely valid.
Based on the results of the survey, current services offered through government,
non-profit, faith-based, and other agencies might need to be altered to meet the specific needs of
those in homelessness.
A total of 823 individuals completed the survey. 37.2% of the sample reported having a
physical or mental disability that impaired activities such as walking, eating, or breathing. 34.7%
reported not being able to fill a needed prescription in their lifetime. 60.2% reported a need for
dental care and 54.2% reported a need for eye care, while only 16.3% reported receiving dental
and/or eye care in the last year. 33.4% reported currently having a substance abuse problem. Of
those who reported a substance abuse problem, less than half of them had received help or
treatment from a hospital or a recovery program such as AA, while more than half reported their
substance use contributed to their homelessness. A third of participants in the study reported
current unaddressed health problems, and more than 40% had not received any medical treatment
13 | Page

in the past year. These findings demonstrate a significant need to expand and improve health
services offered to the homeless population in Hillsborough County.
According to the authors, future research on homelessness and health should focus on
identifying different pathways to health and mental health services for this vulnerable population
and the outcomes of these interventions.
This study is important for the purposes of my research study as Starlight research group
hopes to identify the current health needs of homeless veterans and assess the availability and
effectiveness of those services. If these findings are any indicator of the lack of availability to
needed health services, we can conclude that serious changes need to made in order to satisfy the
vast and unique needs of homeless veterans.

Literature Review 4
Title: Enhancing Veteran Success in Higher Education
Authors: Elizabeth OHerrin, former associate director, American Council on Education

The purpose of the analysis serves as a report to understand the observations stated in the
peer-reviewed article. The article states that Higher Education Institutions should enhance
veteran support groups and finding community-based approaches. Elizabeth OHerrin is the
author who conducted the research on Enhancing Veteran Success in Higher Education. The
research on Enhancing Veteran Success in Higher Education was conducted in the winter of
2011. This document may be intended for audiences who are conducting research and searching
14 | Page

for ways to enhance veteran success in higher education. The article suggests that veterans
struggle to make a smooth transition from serving in the armed forces to transitioning into
civilian life. With proper findings and solutions there are ways to help veterans become more
successful by creating outlets for veterans to connect with. O'Herrin, Elizabeth. "Enhancing
Veteran Success in Higher Education." Winter 13.1 (2011): 15-18-4. Print. I believe this topic of
veterans is important to the public relations sector because this is a sensitive topic that can be
used to bring awareness and bring change. Establishing a firm understanding about what veterans
are faced with when they return from active duty and transition into civil life. The public and
traditional non-veteran cannot relate, and in the public relations sector it is their job to bring
awareness about a topic that is unidentified to the public. By using public relations to announce
this issue public relations specialist can start by creating awareness about veterans and the
struggles they face to bring future change.
According to Elizabeth OHerrin veterans are by definition nontraditional students. They
are typically older, and many are considered transfer students since they often bring credits
earned through college courses they completed in the military or American Council of
Education. OHerrin suggest that some veterans view college as an obligatory check box, while
other veterans embrace the opportunity to immerse themselves in the college experience. What
OHerrin defines is the research problem as she reveals, are there any higher education
institutions that offer programs for military veterans assistance and what programs are in place to
help these veterans succeed at transitioning? The American Council of Education took a national
survey, and more than seven hundred colleges and universities responded to either having
15 | Page

supportive programs and services while others did not have any in place. Public four-year and
two-year institutions (74 percent) are more likely to have programs specifically designed for
military veterans than private non-profit colleges and university (36 percent) according, to Bryan
Cook and Kim young.2009.
Veterans are a diverse population it is impossible to take a one-size-fits-all approach to
serving them, so an important approach is to get the specific needs of the veterans at their
institution. With direct input from the enrolled student population has been said to be the best
approach to designing supportive programs. However, OHerrin points out in her Research
Questions (RQ1) without tracking progression there can not be any results to see success, so it is
suggested that programs maintain contact with the student veterans. This will help improve
programs that are ineffective as well as maintain a relationship with the student veteran. To help
ensure veterans are successful in higher education many institutions are operating to implement
some of the following task to meet the needs of student veterans. The following are:
-

Establish specific points of contact

Create a campus-working group that spans departments.

Collaborate with community organizations to provide comprehensive services.

Ensure veterans receive a thorough introduction to the university through an

orientation.
-

Improve campus climate by establishing a student veterans group, educating faculty

and staff about veteran-specific resources center or designated space.

16 | Page

By Institutions implementing these tasks in their program, veterans can seek to not
feeling alienated upon starting classes. OHerrin suggest that this can be mitigated by having
points of contact within colleges or university offices.
The applied research by done by Elizabeth OHerrin the author of Enhancing Veteran
Success in Higher Education conducted in the winter of 2011. Used qualitative research by
Cook, Bryan and Young Kim. 2009. From soldiers to student: Easing the transition of service
members on campus. Washington D.C: American Council of Education survey and statistical
data to measure the number of programs in public and private institutions and universities. These
numbers gathered from qualitative data OHerrin used in her research methodology constructed
her stand on what higher education institutions are doing to meet the needs of veterans and how
they are helping them transition from military operations to civilian life.
Legislative enhancements to the post 9/11 GI Bill passed in Dec.2010 will expand
benefits to servicemembers and veterans previously excluded. As veterans arrive on campus,
they will continue to look to administration, faculty, and other student veterans for support. An
abundance of government and private nonprofit resources are designed to help facilitate the
transition out of military service into civilian life, and higher education institutions can best serve
the unique student population by supplementing existing campus program and services with
veteran-specific resources.
This entire document of research conducted by OHerrin speaks to me from a public
relations view about how important it is to understand every audience. As her entire research
revolved around what are institutions doing to make student veterans feel successful in higher
17 | Page

education. The important lesson taken from this research analysis is that veterans need to have
altered approaches to meet their specific needs; there is no universal style to teach all students.
However, OHerrin defines what institutions can be doing to better the retention for the student
veteran population. Her qualitative data showed the numbers of how many program are being
provided by institutions both public and private. Her approach is to bring awareness and find a
solution to better approach and get veterans to use institutions programs to leverage their
transition to be successful. Her approach will benefit my future understanding of what needs to
be searched and answered to bring effect change to better an individuals life. In public relations
you go beyond the limits to seek positive effectiveness for your client and in doing so you have
to do your homework and dig for answers that need to be found. The work done in OHerrin
research will benefit others who are looking for the same answered and a way to make a positive
change in the lives of student veterans.

Literature Review 5
Title: Enhancing Veteran Success in Higher Education
Authors: Elizabeth OHerrin, former associate director, American Council on Education

The purpose of the analysis serves as a report to understand the observations stated in the
peer-reviewed article. The article states that Higher Education Institutions should enhance
veteran support groups and finding community-based approaches. Elizabeth OHerrin is the
author who conducted the research on Enhancing Veteran Success in Higher Education. The
18 | Page

research on Enhancing Veteran Success in Higher Education was conducted in the winter of
2011. This document may be intended for audiences who are conducting research and searching
for ways to enhance veteran success in higher education. The article suggests that veterans
struggle to make a smooth transition from serving in the armed forces to transitioning into
civilian life. With proper findings and solutions there are ways to help veterans become more
successful by creating outlets for veterans to connect with. O'Herrin, Elizabeth. "Enhancing
Veteran Success in Higher Education." Winter 13.1 (2011): 15-18-4. Print. I believe this topic of
veterans is important to the public relations sector because this is a sensitive topic that can be
used to bring awareness and bring change. Establishing a firm understanding about what veterans
are faced with when they return from active duty and transition into civil life. The public and
traditional non-veteran cannot relate, and in the public relations sector it is their job to bring
awareness about a topic that is unidentified to the public. By using public relations to announce
this issue public relations specialist can start by creating awareness about veterans and the
struggles they face to bring future change.
According to Elizabeth OHerrin veterans are by definition nontraditional students. They
are typically older, and many are considered transfer students since they often bring credits
earned through college courses they completed in the military or American Council of
Education. OHerrin suggest that some veterans view college as an obligatory check box, while
other veterans embrace the opportunity to immerse themselves in the college experience. What
OHerrin defines is the research problem as she reveals, are there any higher education
institutions that offer programs for military veterans assistance and what programs are in place to
19 | Page

help these veterans succeed at transitioning? The American Council of Education took a national
survey, and more than seven hundred colleges and universities responded to either having
supportive programs and services while others did not have any in place. Public four-year and
two-year institutions (74 percent) are more likely to have programs specifically designed for
military veterans than private non-profit colleges and university (36 percent) according, to Bryan
Cook and Kim young.2009.
Veterans are a diverse population it is impossible to take a one-size-fits-all approach to
serving them, so an important approach is to get the specific needs of the veterans at their
institution. With direct input from the enrolled student population has been said to be the best
approach to designing supportive programs. However, OHerrin points out in her Research
Questions (RQ1) without tracking progression there can not be any results to see success, so it is
suggested that programs maintain contact with the student veterans. This will help improve
programs that are ineffective as well as maintain a relationship with the student veteran. To help
ensure veterans are successful in higher education many institutions are operating to implement
some of the following task to meet the needs of student veterans. The following are:
-

Establish specific points of contact

Create a campus-working group that spans departments.

Collaborate with community organizations to provide comprehensive services.

Ensure veterans receive a thorough introduction to the university through an

orientation.

20 | Page

Improve campus climate by establishing a student veterans group, educating faculty

and staff about veteran-specific resources center or designated space.

By Institutions implementing these tasks in their program, veterans can seek to not
feeling alienated upon starting classes. OHerrin suggest that this can be mitigated by having
points of contact within colleges or university offices.
The applied research by done by Elizabeth OHerrin the author of Enhancing Veteran
Success in Higher Education conducted in the winter of 2011. Used qualitative research by
Cook, Bryan and Young Kim. 2009. From soldiers to student: Easing the transition of service
members on campus. Washington D.C: American Council of Education survey and statistical
data to measure the number of programs in public and private institutions and universities. These
numbers gathered from qualitative data OHerrin used in her research methodology constructed
her stand on what higher education institutions are doing to meet the needs of veterans and how
they are helping them transition from military operations to civilian life.
Legislative enhancements to the post 9/11 GI Bill passed in Dec.2010 will expand
benefits to servicemembers and veterans previously excluded. As veterans arrive on campus,
they will continue to look to administration, faculty, and other student veterans for support. An
abundance of government and private nonprofit resources are designed to help facilitate the
transition out of military service into civilian life, and higher education institutions can best serve
the unique student population by supplementing existing campus program and services with
veteran-specific resources.

21 | Page

This entire document of research conducted by OHerrin speaks to me from a public

relations view about how important it is to understand every audience. As her entire research
revolved around what are institutions doing to make student veterans feel successful in higher
education. The important lesson taken from this research analysis is that veterans need to have
altered approaches to meet their specific needs; there is no universal style to teach all students.
However, OHerrin defines what institutions can be doing to better the retention for the student
veteran population. Her qualitative data showed the numbers of how many program are being
provided by institutions both public and private. Her approach is to bring awareness and find a
solution to better approach and get veterans to use institutions programs to leverage their
transition to be successful. Her approach will benefit my future understanding of what needs to
be searched and answered to bring effect change to better an individuals life. In public relations
you go beyond the limits to seek positive effectiveness for your client and in doing so you have
to do your homework and dig for answers that need to be found. The work done in OHerrin
research will benefit others who are looking for the same answered and a way to make a positive
change in the lives of student veterans.

Literature Review 6
Title: Student Veterans in Transition: Re-enrolling after War Zone Deployments
Authors: Corey B. Rumann and Florence A Hamrick

22 | Page

The purpose of the analysis serves as a report to understand the observations stated in the
peer-reviewed article. The article states that Higher Education Institutions should enhance
veteran support groups and finding community-based approaches. Elizabeth OHerrin is the
author who conducted the research on Enhancing Veteran Success in Higher Education. The
research on Enhancing Veteran Success in Higher Education was conducted in the winter of
2011. This document may be intended for audiences who are conducting research and searching
for ways to enhance veteran success in higher education. The article suggests that veterans
struggle to make a smooth transition from serving in the armed forces to transitioning into
civilian life. With proper findings and solutions there are ways to help veterans become more
successful by creating outlets for veterans to connect with. O'Herrin, Elizabeth. "Enhancing
Veteran Success in Higher Education." Winter 13.1 (2011): 15-18-4. Print. I believe this topic of
veterans is important to the public relations sector because this is a sensitive topic that can be
used to bring awareness and bring change. Establishing a firm understanding about what veterans
are faced with when they return from active duty and transition into civil life. The public and
traditional non-veteran cannot relate, and in the public relations sector it is their job to bring
awareness about a topic that is unidentified to the public. By using public relations to announce
this issue public relations specialist can start by creating awareness about veterans and the
struggles they face to bring future change.
According to Elizabeth OHerrin veterans are by definition nontraditional students. They
are typically older, and many are considered transfer students since they often bring credits
earned through college courses they completed in the military or American Council of
23 | Page

Education. OHerrin suggest that some veterans view college as an obligatory check box, while
other veterans embrace the opportunity to immerse themselves in the college experience. What
OHerrin defines is the research problem as she reveals, are there any higher education
institutions that offer programs for military veterans assistance and what programs are in place to
help these veterans succeed at transitioning? The American Council of Education took a national
survey, and more than seven hundred colleges and universities responded to either having
supportive programs and services while others did not have any in place. Public four-year and
two-year institutions (74 percent) are more likely to have programs specifically designed for
military veterans than private non-profit colleges and university (36 percent) according, to Bryan
Cook and Kim young.2009.
Veterans are a diverse population it is impossible to take a one-size-fits-all approach to
serving them, so an important approach is to get the specific needs of the veterans at their
institution. With direct input from the enrolled student population has been said to be the best
approach to designing supportive programs. However, OHerrin points out in her Research
Questions (RQ1) without tracking progression there can not be any results to see success, so it is
suggested that programs maintain contact with the student veterans. This will help improve
programs that are ineffective as well as maintain a relationship with the student veteran. To help
ensure veterans are successful in higher education many institutions are operating to implement
some of the following task to meet the needs of student veterans. The following are:

24 | Page

By Institutions implementing these tasks in their program, veterans can seek to not
feeling alienated upon starting classes. OHerrin suggest that this can be mitigated by having
points of contact within colleges or university offices.
The applied research by done by Elizabeth OHerrin the author of Enhancing Veteran
Success in Higher Education conducted in the winter of 2011. Used qualitative research by
Cook, Bryan and Young Kim. 2009. From soldiers to student: Easing the transition of service
members on campus. Washington D.C: American Council of Education survey and statistical
data to measure the number of programs in public and private institutions and universities. These
numbers gathered from qualitative data OHerrin used in her research methodology constructed
her stand on what higher education institutions are doing to meet the needs of veterans and how
they are helping them transition from military operations to civilian life.
Legislative enhancements to the post 9/11 GI Bill passed in Dec.2010 will expand
benefits to servicemembers and veterans previously excluded. As veterans arrive on campus,
they will continue to look to administration, faculty, and other student veterans for support. An
abundance of government and private nonprofit resources are designed to help facilitate the
transition out of military service into civilian life, and higher education institutions can best serve
the unique student population by supplementing existing campus program and services with
veteran-specific resources.
This entire document of research conducted by OHerrin speaks to me from a public
relations view about how important it is to understand every audience. As her entire research
revolved around what are institutions doing to make student veterans feel successful in higher
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education. The important lesson taken from this research analysis is that veterans need to have
altered approaches to meet their specific needs; there is no universal style to teach all students.
However, OHerrin defines what institutions can be doing to better the retention for the student
veteran population. Her qualitative data showed the numbers of how many program are being
provided by institutions both public and private. Her approach is to bring awareness and find a
solution to better approach and get veterans to use institutions programs to leverage their
transition to be successful. Her approach will benefit my future understanding of what needs to
be searched and answered to bring effect change to better an individuals life. In public relations
you go beyond the limits to seek positive effectiveness for your client and in doing so you have
to do your homework and dig for answers that need to be found. The work done in OHerrin
research will benefit others who are looking for the same answered and a way to make a positive
change in the lives of student veterans.

Literature Review 7
Title: Association of Substance Use and VA Service-Connected Disability Benefits with Risk of
Homelessness among Veteran
Authors: Ellen L. Edens, Wes Kasprow, Jack Tsai and Robert A. Rosenheck
This study was published in The American Journal On Addictions Volume 5, Issue 10 on
September of 2011. Doctors, Ellen L. Edens, Wes Kasprow, Jack Tsai and Robert A. Rosenheck,
whom all practice their profession in Connecticut, are the authors of this article. Their purpose

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behind this study was to figure out which factors within veterans using disability benefits causes
them to be homeless. This study allows those attempting to put an end to both substance abuse
and homelessness in veterans, target and differentiate specific needs within this group of
individuals. Studies as such are important in the Public Relations industry for those that work for
nonprofit organizations as well as governmental agencies to create more effective homelessness
preventative efforts.
The authors chose to conduct this study because there has been plenty of research that
proves low socioeconomic status, mental illnesses and criminal justice system involvement are
causes of veteran homelessness, yet there has been no studies correlating homelessness risk to
those that are Veteran Affair health service users. Within their study, the group uses VA
administrative data of veterans using VA mental health services as predictors of their hypothesis.
Homeless veterans were compared to non-homeless veterans through the following
characteristics: mental health diagnostics which includes substance abuse, disability status
connected to their time serving, and their overall service in the US Armed Forces. The sample is
split into two groups, (1) Operation Enduring Freedom or Operation Iraqi Freedom (OEF/OIF)
whom have been targeted by VA outreach effort and (2) veterans receiving service-connected
disability.
The authors cited 41 other articles within their study along with tables with the
demographics that they found from the Bivariate comparison of recently homeless vs.
non-homeless VA mental health users 2009 administrative data. Their entire sample size was

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1,120,424 and 109,056 of those were homeless. The demographics used to break the sample size
down were age, race, geography, income, disability status, and diagnosis. The men were being
treated for dementia, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depression, anxiety, PTSD, alcohol
use, drug use, pathological gambling and personality disorders.
Limitations of the study included that some factors of the administrative data of those
diagnosed with dementia, depression, anxiety disorders or PTSD were protected which
ultimately hinders the results. Not all risk factors, such as criminal history, are included in the
study although it sometimes goes hand in hand with substance abuse in many cases. Also many
homeless veterans have limited access to VA services which hinders them to get the help that
they need while others simply choose not to take the services provided for them This study was a
simple generalization of already presented statistics.
The researchers found that being diagnosed with schizophrenia or bipolar disorders were
the least predicting factor of homelessness within veterans receiving mental health services.
illicit drug use increased homelessness by almost eight times and those who suffered from
alcohol disorder were five times more likely to be homeless than those who did not. The
administrative date of the fiscal year 2009 also showed that unlike the analysis of all mental
health service users, veterans of OEF/OIF that had severe mental illness were more at risk of
being homeless than those who served in those same wars but were not diagnosed with those
illnesses. Compared to nonservice-connected veterans, receiving a service-connected disability
rating of over 50% reduced the risk of homelessness by 52%, while receiving a service

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connected disability rating of less than 50% reduced the risk of homelessness by 18%.
Pathological gambling is the third highest diagnosis that puts veterans at risk of homelessness.
This study shows that there should be more programs such as rehabilitation centers, in
order to tackle the great issue of substance abuse to be able to reduce the number of veterans out
of a home. The authors give some of the greatest potential risks for homelessness and it is up to
VA services, health institutions as well as non-profits to meet these needs.

Literature Review 8
Title: Alcohol and drug use disorders among homeless veterans: Prevalence and association with
supported housing outcomes
Authors: Jack Tsai, Wesley J. Kasprow and Robert A. Rosenheck
The purpose of this analysis is to further comprehend the observations made in 2013
within the study conducted by Jack Tsai, Wesley J. Kasprow and Robert A. Rosenheck. 60% of
homeless veterans entering supported housing had a substance abuse disorder. Although Veteran
Affairs Housing and Urban Development Veterans Affairs Supported Housing program is
providing subsidized housing for veterans, hardly any HUD-VASH teams have requirements that
veterans have to follow in order to receive such aid, often leading them to continue on with
substance abuse even after they are no longer homeless. Their purpose for this study was to be
able to provide VA, housing programs, government agencies and substance abuse facilities a

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better understanding of how substance abuse contributes to homelessness as well as ongoing

homelessness and how they can incorporate better substance abuse treatments to those receiving
housing aid.
This scholarly article cites 13 other articles within it. The authors also used national data
from the HUD-VASH program in order to show how several substance abuse disorders affect the
veteran at the time of enlisting into the housing assistance programs.
It was first hypothesized that veterans with substance abuse disorders world have worse
housing experiences than those veterans who do not suffer with the disorder within the first six
months after being admitted into the program. The hypothesis was then further elaborated that
those who had both alcohol and substance abuse would have worse outcomes that only suffer
either or.
The authors conduct basic quantitative research because they are using the national data
from HUD-VASH which provides statistics, demographics and percentages. Some of the mental
health statuses from the clients were self-reported which may not all be accurate. These
self-reported measures include a mental health score that is gauged with a Likert scale. They also
used generalized estimating equations for the outcome analysis of the first six months.
The sample of homeless veterans was split into four groups, veterans with no substance
abuse disorder, a alcohol abuse disorder only, those with solely a drug use disorder and those
with both. The four groups were then compared by demographics like mental health diagnosis,

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housing status and clinical status. Out of 29,142 HUD-VASH clients, 40.33% had no substance
use disorder, 16.64% had only an alcohol use disorder, 10.96% had only a drug use disorder and
32.08% had both an alcohol and drug use disorder. This mean that 59.68% had a substance use
disorder and 53.76% of those had both. Those who only had an alcohol use disorder were mostly
older white men, those with only aa drug use disorder had a tendency of being black. Those that
had both alcohol and drug use disorders reported the most homeless episodes within the past
three years while those with no use disorders had the fewest. Not many that provided feedback
after the six months and those who did didnt have a great change within their situation. There
were hardly any differences in those with and without a substance use disorder on housing
outcomes over six months, other than those with an alcohol use disorder who spent fewer nights
in a transitional/residential treatment over time. HUD-VASH clients that only had an alcohol use
disorder and those with an alcohol and drug use disorder had higher mental health symptom
scores over six months compared to those with no substance use disorder.
This study proves the close correlation between alcohol and substance abuse and
homelessness. The findings of this study may serve right to HUD-VASH program and show
them that it would be beneficial to have a substance abuse treatment integrated into their
program in order to prevent homeless veterans that are going through substance misuse disorders
from falling between the cracks and becoming homeless again and continue that ongoing cycle.
The study consisted of administrative data which may not always be reliable. The
diagnosis within the data did not specify the drug use disorders therefore it discredits a bit of the

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validity of the study. The study was somewhat biased to those that had both misuses in assuming
they would be worse off, those who were better off were in better conditions throughout
unmeasurable terms such as confidence, coping skills and motivation.
HUD-VASH and other housing agencies should implement a rehab treatment within their
programs instead of ignoring the bigger issue. If veteran welfare is their overall goal they should
implement this portion to their team without hesitation.
Literature Review 9
Title: Opioid and Other Substance Misuse, Overdose Risk and the Potential for Prevention
Among a Sample of OEF/OIF Veterans in New York City
Authors: Alex S. Bennet, Luther Elliott and Andrew Golub
The purpose of this article is to point out the overdose risks as well as the vulnerabilities
veterans go through due to the challenges they face when re-entering civilian life. The authors,
Alex S. Bennet, Luther Elliott and Andrew Golub focused on the pressures veterans face that
could cause them to negatively affect their own health, specifically with the misuse of opioids
and other similar drugs through qualitative research and 86 other articles that were cited in their
work . The authors take peoples individual experiences of a sample of 20 OEF/OIF veterans that
are considered to have low income status.
The sample group was divided in half in order to better understand each participants
obstacles. One group was made up of homeless black and Latino veterans while the other focus
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group consisted of veterans attached to the community or enlisted in a 4-year-college. Each

focus group lasted about two hours and they covered each participants perspectives and
experiences when they first began to consume alcohol or drugs, how they accessed and used the
substance treatment information, their readjustment period and other barriers encountered.
Although the study covers plenty of veteran vulnerabilities, Starlight Research Group is
focusing on alcohol and drug abuse and homelessness and poverty. Most of the veterans the
authors spoke to said the enlisting was a quick entrance to heavy drinking, most of them smoked
marijuana before enlisting and replaced it with alcohol once in the force, even under-aged
recruits were able to get their hands on alcohol. One of the participants said he could easily get
opioids on base while another said it was practically impossible but the desperation caused them
to use semi-synthetic Oxycotin as a mixer in his alcohol. Many of these veterans take the
painkillers to forget while others were initially given them to ease pain caused by wounds in
combat but ended up getting addicted to them.
The limitation for this study was the sample size, it was very small, making the study too
general. Also there was not many facts other than the testimonies supporting the hypothesis.
The purpose of this study was to raise awareness in the reasons as to why veterans are so
vulnerable to fall into bad habits and for governmental institutions, Veteran Affairs, medical
practitioners and mental health professionals to be more conscious about what they are dealing
with and to not just prescribe them some medication instead of addressing the real problem. The
authors main purpose is to prevent as many veterans from getting addicted to alcohol and illicit
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drugs because they feel as if there is no way out. They want for professionals to do all they can
in order to prevent veterans from feeling like there is no escape other than drugs or suicide.

IV. Objectives
Starlight Research Group aims to discover the specific factors that contribute to veteran
homelessness and examine the programs currently in place to evaluate their effectiveness. The
ultimate goal is to minimize the effects of post-service trauma (whether that be emotional or
physical) to ensure U.S. veterans have access to jobs and homes upon their return from service.

V. Research Questions
RQ# 1: What are the factors contributing to homelessness among war veterans?
RQ# 2: Which programs are already in place to help eliminate or alleviate the effects of these
factors?
RQ# 3: How effective have these programs proven to be?

VI. Research Methodology and Design

As Starlight Research Group aims to answer specific questions regarding veteran
homelessness, the research is applied. This research is descriptive, as SRG aims to explain and
explore veteran homelessness. SRG utilized both quantitative and qualitative research in order to
more fully explore the topic at hand. Observations and in-depth interviews were conducted as

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part of qualitative research. A social media survey questionnaire and a digital analysis of the
social media platform were used as part of quantitative research. Primary data collected include
the surveys, interviews, and observations. Secondary data collected include literature reviews
and information gathered from government and library databases.

VII. A. Qualitative Research

1. Observations
Friday, November 6, 2015
A Starlight Research member conducted a natural observation at the Southside
Community Centers Family Homeless Shelter and posed as a volunteer, arriving before any of
the families were allowed back into the facility. It is a rule of the facility that if a homeless
family was staying overnight, they must leave between 7 a.m. and 8 a.m., and may return at 5
p.m., this gives them the opportunity to go out into the community and look for potential
employment.
The shelter itself consists of a living room with two couches, two reclining chairs and a
computer with internet access; a spacious kitchen with a large kitchen table, which is able to seat
six people at a time and a stove and a refrigerator. As one goes down the hall, there is a total of
six rooms that look quite similar to an average hotel room, each with two twin sized beds. At the
end of the hall there are community style bathrooms for both men and women with two stalls and

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three shower heads. There is also a laundry room available to the clients which permits them to
wash one load per night.
In order to stay at the Family Homeless Shelter, clients must have a family with children;
no single men or women can be considered. They may not show any signs of being under the
influence of drugs or alcohol, and the staff shows no tolerance to aggressive or violent behavior.
They must be courteous to all other shelter clients. Theft is not tolerated, and they must keep
their rooms and restrooms clean at all times. Quiet hours are from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. Each family
is allowed three nights maximum, and if they need an extension they must apply for more time.
Only the Executive Director, Ruben Garza, can grant such extensions.
The first to arrive was a family of three Hispanics, two little girls, one that seemed to be
around three years old and the other possibly eight, along with their mother that seemed to be
somewhere between her mid-20s to early 30s. Second to arrive was a family of five, the mother
who was Caucasian, the father that was African American and three children two boys both
seemingly around 10-13 years old and an infant baby girl which was swaddled in a blanket in her
mothers arms. The third family struck out to be a tad bit more than the others because it
consisted of an elderly woman, which assumingly was the grandmother, the mother who seemed
to be in her early 40s and a young man in his late teens. Finally, the last to arrive was a woman
around her mid-30s whom the shelter manager, Lisa Selgado, had specified before conducting
the observation was indeed a veteran. She was accompanied by her two sons, one around eight
and the other seemingly around 12 or 13. What one usually thinks of when picturing homeless
people is usually, unhygienic people with dirty, ragged clothes and based off of the shelters
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clients appearances, one would have never imagined they were going through such
circumstance. It is safe to say that it did seem to prove true that single parents are more likely to
be homeless.
While the Starlight Research member was at the facility, it was dinner time. Meals are
not only provided for the Family Homeless Shelter clients but also anybody within the
community needing a meal. The facility had three volunteers that Friday, Nov. 6th evening, that
helped distribute the food onto the plates which consisted of chili cheese dogs, potato chips, a
side salad and pecan pie for dessert. During dinner the researcher kept a close eye on the
shelters clients and took notice that they were all extremely friendly to one another. Some of the
boys from the different families had seemed to grow a friendship. The boy that was in his late
teens really kept to himself the entire time though, he didnt even speak to either his mother or
grandmother and left into their room as soon as he finished eating. All the mothers seemed to be
well acquainted as well and even got after each others kids for running around. Other than that
little mishap the children were very well behaved, even the youngest. They all cleaned up after
themselves, throwing away their leftovers and the Hispanic eight-year-old girl even helped the
staff members wash dishes and clean up after the rest of the people that went to the dinner. The
researcher left alongside all of the people that were not spending the night at the shelter.

2. In-Depth Interviews
Qualitative In-Depth Interview 1

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Starlight Research Group has collected qualitative data to use for research into the factors
that contribute to war veterans becoming homeless. The following face-to-face interview was
conducted at Texas State University with Paul Villagran, a lecturer in the School of Journalism
and Mass Communication. Villagran holds 20-years of experience as a Deputy Director for the
United States Air Force Public Affairs Agency before becoming a lecturer. Starlight Research
Group selected Villagran to be interviewed as he is a veteran who has made the transition from
military operations to civilian life. Villagran was contacted for a structured interview that
allowed Starlight Research Group to ask questions related to the research topic at hand.
The interview took place on Oct. 20, 2015 in Paul Villagrans office at Texas State
University during the day. The 35-minute interview started with the following questions:

Q#1 What would you say are some difficulties veterans face when they are transitioning from
military-life to civilian-life?
Villagran: Knowing your identity is important, and being able to distinguish your military self
vs. your personal/private self. If you joined the military at eighteen, nineteen or early twenties
and you have been in the military for 20-years, that means your entire adult life has been one
thing. Military. It is important to not make military 100 percent of your identity. That is difficult
to deal with since you join the military it becomes your identity, you cant leave the job and go
home to a regular civilian-life. The difficulties are separating themselves from a significant part
of their identity and coming to terms with the fact that they are never going to be able to go back

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again once they are released. [When a soldier reaches twenty years of service they have
maximized their time, and will be considered retired]

Q#2 Was it difficult for you to transition into civilian-life?

Villagran: It was not hard for me, Ive been exposed to teaching through my wife, and example
when I got married I chose not to wear my military uniform to my wedding. I wanted to maintain
my distinction of my military-me vs. my personal-private me.

Q#3 How important is higher education to you?

Villagran: This day and age is pretty hard to go through life anymore without a college
education. I think there is very few things in life that will allow you to buy a home, raise a
family, do things you want to in life without a college education. The military retirement system
is 20-years all or nothing. If you reach 20-years you get retired with benefits and pay. If youre in
4-years, 8-years, 18-years you get nothing. If young military aged people start in early 20s and
realize that is not something they see themselves doing it for 20-years, then they need to have
something to fall back on if theyre smart and education is an element to that.

Q#4 How important is it to have resources and programs available to veterans on campus, and do
you think the resources are effective?
Villagran: I think its highly important, I dont think veterans would be able to function
anywhere near to the level they do now without veteran resources. Veterans are more mature
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and a lot of them leverage those resources. Yes, the resources used by veterans are a highly
significant tool and the support they need to get through graduating. Veterans graduate at a
higher percentage rate than non-veterans do, and having programs in place allow veteran to get
the help and support they need to be successful. Veterans are more mature they leverage the
resources and use them.

Q#5 If you had to give advice to a student veteran that is considering dropping out of school and
settling for a job that requires no-degree, what would you tell them?
Villagran: Dont go through it alone. There are a lot of resources and you do not need to
struggle. Find a mentor find a battle buddy, find people to leverage and help you. If you try and
go at it alone your limitations (such as personal or military diagnosed with PTSD or anything
similar) is going to make it infinitely harder. Students think going to class is all they have to do,
but that is just a small portion. You should go to class, attend organizations, get involved in
clubs/activates and it will make you a valuable contributor to society.

Q#6 How was your transition from the military to getting an education; did you encounter any
problem with the V.A.?
Villagran: When you have a break from going to school some education Skills have
deteriorated such as math for me, so I enrolled in community college first for 2-years to gain
back what I had lost, then I went to a four year university. The G.I. bill was relatively easy and I
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had no problems submitting the paperwork. The V.A. needs to have good communication with
school to get students the G.I. bill. It can be difficult for a student if communication is poor.

Q#7 What are some struggles you commonly see in student veterans?
Villagran: A common thing Ive noticed in any student, but especially for veteran students is
the pressure of going to school. For the average non-military student attending college they are
faced with pressure. In high school you know that you are going home at the end of the day, you
have food and a roof over your head For veterans: How do they fit into this environment and
culture and the challenges of different language (college language vs. military language) veterans
have more things that are impacting them then non-military students do. Military students come
from a different environment and it is hard to adjust to being put into a civilian-environment.
Most veterans are married and have a family at a young age and most young college students
dont have that connection.

Q#8 Do you think military jobs are transferable into civilian jobs?
Villagran: Yes, individuals who come out of the military have lots of valuable skills. Skills that
transfer into civilian-life, such as: training education, leadership, mentorship, experience. Some
translate directly into civilian-life, but not everyone in the military has a job that will transfer
over to non-military jobs.
The responses of the interview helped Starlight Research Group better understand how
war veterans transition from actively serving in the military to becoming a part of civilian
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(non-military) society. The transitional phase of one veteran experience helped SRG facilitate
more specific questions that were used in the survey questionnaire to get accurate data. The
interviewee suggested, that veterans are qualified and capable of having a successful transition
when they enter into civilian life as long as they leverage the others and programs set in place for
veterans.

Qualitative In-Depth Interview 2

For the qualitative research section of this report, an in-depth interview was conducted of
a non-traditional veteran student. The interview was divided into two parts. The first part of the
interview was conducted via email on October 26th, 2015. A series of questions was emailed to
the interviewee, and responses were sent back. The second part of the interview was conducted
on the Texas State University campus on November 2nd, 2015, where responses were followed
up with and clarified.
The interviewee was chosen due to his experience in the military and as a student who is
trying to work his way back into a normal civilian lifestyle. He also has experience trying to
navigate the various aspects of VA benefits.
The interview was structured. The questions were specific to the interviewees experience
transitioning from his time in the military to civilian life. The following is a transcript from the
interview conducted via email.

Q#1 What difficulties have you experienced during your transition into civilian life, if any?
Interviewee: I was diagnosed with 40% disability and mild PTSD after I was discharged. Mild
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PTSD just means you experience sleep issues, short temper, and numb emotions. Also, my
stipend from the 9/11 GI Bills had processing problems that lead to delays in payment multiple
times. That left me for months without any source of income.

Q#2 What services or programs, if any, aided in your transition?

Interviewee: The Post 9/11 GI Bill was helpful once I got the money, but the constant
processing problems and policy mistakes left me more than once having to charge things on
credit while waiting for things to be fixed on the VAs end.

Q#3 Which programs proved to be most effective and helpful, and why?
Interviewee: Post 9/11 was the most effective, with the caveat I included on question 2.

Q#4 Were there any programs you found not to be effective? If so, which ones, and why?
Interviewee: Mental Health tried to implement a regimen of SSRIs for the PTSD that did not
help at all. Every visit to the VA hospital for any reason was depressing and slow. Most of these
services could have been outsourced or vouchered and handled much more effectively while
giving more of a choice to the veteran.

Q#5 What services and programs do you believe should be put in place to help veterans
transition back into civilian life?

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Interviewee: Regardless of legality to average citizens, veterans should be allowed to opt in to

alternative treatments, especially PTSD sufferers. Medicinal marijuana should be legalized for
all veterans. More vocational training programs instead of a push for a college degree, as
veterans tend to do better with hands-on jobs and training.

The following is transcribed from our follow-up interview, in which responses to the questions
above were clarified.

Q#1 Can you elaborate on what you mean by 40% disability, and how that is determined?
Interviewee: So, for the disability things, the military gives you a rating in percentage form that
sums up how much damage was caused or aggravated by military service. I personally have 10%
for minor loss of use of a limb and 30% PTSD, so 40% total.

Q#2 Can you clarify what you mean by Mental Health, when you talked about Mental Health
implementing SSRIs?
Interviewee: All of the things you claim through disability can be treated at a VA hospital for
free. Right after the diagnosis, the VA hospital in Houston trying to treat the PTSD with Celexa,
an SSRI (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor). Mental Health refers to the specific
department that was dealing with my PTSD in the VA.

Q#3 What do you mean by depressing and slow?

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Interviewee: As far as them being depressing and slow, there is usually a long wait for
appointments, and a long wait when you actually show up for said appointment. If you don't live
near one, you have to travel, which is a huge inconvenience. They are depressing because you
are forced to see the full spectrum of veteran issues up front and personal. Homeless, addicts,
TBI, PTSD, etc.

Q#4 How could vouches offer a solution?

Interviewee: As far as vouchers are concerned, this is an idea that has been espoused for a
while. When I was in the Army, they had a program called the Oral Health Initiative (OHI)
where they gave vouchers
for people with good oral hygiene, allowing them to get off-base dental and orthodontic care.
This helped a lot with relieving the pressure on the DENTAC system. This idea could be
used/expanded for the VA health care system to accomplish the same benefits. The current
system is not acceptable.

The responses given in interview #2 allow us to better answer research questions #2 and
#3. We have learned that the post 9/11 GI Bill has proven to be helpful in aiding the transition
between service and employment. However, the lack of efficiency and level of difficulty make it
a challenging process. Additionally, according the interviewee a voucher system may be
potential solution to the ineffectiveness of the bill and a way to navigate the red tape of federal
programs.
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VII. B. Quantitative Research

Part 1 - Survey/ Questionnaire
This survey will help provide Texas State students who are conducting research on
veteran homelessness with information regarding the various contributing factors. The following
questions may be personal. If at any point during the survey you are not comfortable answering a
question, you may skip the question or stop the survey entirely. Starlight Research group
objectives for this survey is to ask the population a series of seventeen questions regarding
military veterans and what service programs are facilitated in higher education institutions, what
factors are contributing to veterans homelessness and specific demographic questions. The
questionnaire survey was formatted through Google docs and the online survey was formatted
with seventeen questions in the selected format:

Question 1, 2 and 3 are designed as qualifying, dichotomous, questions. Starlight

Research group used a skip response format for question one stating that any person-answering
no (not having been enrolled in the military) can skip to question 8 and 9. This however, was a
limitation due to individuals not reading the question carefully and answering veteran specific
questions. This did not serve as accurate data for the purposes of this survey.

1.

Have you been enrolled in a branch of the U.S. Military at any point?
[Qualifying question]
Yes
No (Skip to question 8 and 9)

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2. W

hat is your current corporal ranking? Check one. [Qualifying question]

Check one.
Private
Corporal
Sergeant
Master
Sergeant Major
Other
Not Applicable
3. D
o you have a military issued I.D.? [Dichotomous scale, Qualifying Question]
Yes
No
4.

What factor(s) led you to enroll in higher education?

[Close-ended multiple choice scale, Warm-up Questions]

a.

Job security/ increased income

b.

Injuries caused from serving in combat

c.

Need/want for a college degree

d.

Discharge from Military

e.

I have not enrolled in higher education

f. O
ther __________________
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5. Which of the following U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs programs have you applied
for, if any? Check all that apply. [Close-ended Scale] Warm-up Questions
G.I. Bill
Montgomery G.I. Bill
Survivors and Dependents Education Assistance (DEA)
Reserved Educational Assistance (REAP)
Hazelwood Act
I have not applied for any of these programs.
6.

Have you used any of the following on- or off-campus resources for veterans?

Select all that apply. [Multiple-choice scale] Warm-up Questions

Scholarships
Academy Coaching
Attorney for Students
Career Services
Ombuds Services
Peer Mentoring
Tutor Corps, SLAC
Tutor Corps, Writing Center
Veterans Alliance of Texas State
Veterans Advisory Council (VAC)
Veterans Alliance of Texas State (VATS)
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 Veterans Guiding Veterans

Veterans Initiative at Texas State
Other _______________________________________
I have not used any services for veterans.
7.

How effective/helpful do you believe these services have been during your

transition into civilian life? Skip if you have not used any services.
[Graphic Scale] Warm-up Questions
Not at all.

Extremely

helpful.
1

8.

How much of a problem do you believe homelessness is in Texas?

Circle one. [Itemized Scale, Transition Question ]

Not at all.

It is a huge

problem.
1

9.

What do you think are the main reasons for veteran homelessness? Circle all

that apply. (END HERE IF YOU ARE NOT A VETERAN) [Random Order Scale,
Transition Question]

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 Mental Illness
Lack of motivation
Drug/Alcohol abuse
Poverty/Lack of job opportunities
Physical or mental disabilities
Other _______________
10.

How difficult has your transition into civilian life been? Circle one.

[Likert Scale, Difficulty Question]

Not at all.

Extremely

difficult.
1
11.

I have experienced some level of PTSD since my enrollment in the military.

Select one. [Multiple choice Scale] Difficult Question

(1) Strongly Disagree (2) Disagree (3) Neutral (4) Agree (5) Strongly Agree

12.

What branch of military did you serve/are you serving in? Check all that apply.

[Close-ended multiple choice scale] Demographic Question

Air Force
Navy
Army
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 Coast Guard
Marine Corps
N/A
13.

Select the highest level of education you have completed.

[Close-ended multiple choice scale] Demographic question

A.

Some High School

B.

High School Diploma/ GED

C.

Some College

D.

Bachelor degree

E.
F.

Master's Degree

Doctorate

14.

How many times have you enlisted/reenlisted in the service?

[Close-ended multiple choice scale] Demographic question

A.

1-2

B.

C.

D.
15.

3-4
5-6
over 6 term

Select your age. [Close-ended multiple choice scale, Demographic]

18-20
21-25
26-35
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 36-49
50+
16.
A.

Specify your gender. [Close-ended multiple choice scale, Demographic]

Female

B.

C.

17.

Male
Would rather not answer.
Select your Race. [Close-ended multiple choice scale, Demographic]

White/Caucasian
African American
Hispanic
Native American
Asian
Middle eastern
Would rather not answer.

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Starlight Research Group analyzed the findings for the survey that was distributed Oct.
19, 2015 and remained open for twenty-eight days and closed on Nov. 15, 2015. During the
twenty-eight days, the survey was opened to the public and was distributed online via social
media platforms such as Facebook, Tumblr, Twitter and through personal text messages. The
Survey was taken a total of 45 times. Starlight Research Group did not meet the goal expectation
for the total number of surveys taken, which was 100 responses. The data showed the
demographic questions 52.4% of responders were female, and 47.7% were male who
participated in the survey. There was not a dominant gender that took the survey over the other
as data indicates there was nearly an equal amount of participation. The average age of people
who participated in the survey were between the ages of 21-25 accounted for 62.2% of the
survey population. The highest level of education showed 27.2% of the population has a high
school diploma or a bachelors degree and 72.7% have completed some college from the time of
the survey. The target audiences for this survey were military service members, and getting them
to complete the survey. There were limitations such as finding and getting the target audience to
complete the survey was challenging. The questioner helped filter the target audience as question
one asked Have you been enrolled in a branch of the U.S. Military at any point during your
lifetime? 16 responded yes, indicating the number of total military individuals who took the
survey and 28-non-military. This asked those who answered yes (non-military) to skip to
questions 8 and 9. Starlight Research Group chose the skip response to speed the survey process
time for those taking the survey. Though, some did not read carefully and answered questions
that were specifically targeted for military individuals. Question 5 and 6 helped filter the
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non-military since 16 responders answered they have either used the Montgomery G.I. Bill or the
G.I. Bill. There are specific requirements for past and active military service members to qualify
for the programs and these questions helped SRG filter the data. The data gathered from this
survey-conducted reveals the target audience may have not been reached due to limitations that
exempted those from taking the survey. The online feature could have dismissed those from
participating in the survey or not having access to a technological devices. This survey can be
used to determine the specific questions that correlate with the research questions and help
answer what the contributing factors are that cause veterans to become homeless.

Part 2- Analysis of Social Media

Starlight Research Groups Facebook page, Research for Veteran Homelessness was initiated on
October 14, 2015. Through our page we were able to spread awareness of veteran homelessness
as well are engaging our followers to our survey. The following data was collected through our
social media:

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Outputs
Project

Category

Date Posted Time Posted

People Reached

Clicks Interactions

Post 1

picture

10/14/2015

1:20 p.m.

Post 2

status

10/14/2015

1:29 p.m.

159

Post 3

link

10/19/2015

4:45 p.m.

212

Post 4

picture

10/19/2015

4:52 p.m.

Post 5

link

10/19/2015

4:54 p.m.

939

26

35

Post 6

link

10/26/2015

1:19 p.m.

156

Post 7

picture

10/29/2015

7:07 a.m.

44

Post 8

link

10/29/2015

11:41 a.m.

62

Post 9

link

10/29/2015

11:41 a.m.

71

Post 10

link

11/2/2015

10:27 a.m.

61

Post 11

picture

11/4/2015

12:47 p.m.

38

Post 12

picture

11/8/2015

9:00 p.m.

52

Post 13

picture

11/11/2015

7:05 a.m.

16

Post 14

picture

11/11/2015

7:35 a.m.

20

Post 15

link

11/11/2015

10:03 a.m.

24

Post 16

picture

11/11/2015

11:31 a.m.

14

Post 17

video

11/11/2015

11:36 a.m.

66

12

Post 18

link

11/11/2015

1:04 p.m.

12

Post 19

video

11/11/2015

11:36 a.m.

83

1
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The first peak for Research for Veteran Homelessness likes was on October 19th; our post was
our groups first time sharing the link of our survey to our followers. October 26 we got more
followers on our page and shared our survey another time. Our second highest post was a video
shared on Veterans Day about servicemen homecoming videos. The third peak represents a
video also shared on Veterans Day about a wounded veteran in recovery.

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Outtakes
Facebook Page Likes
Oct.
21-23

Oct.
24-26

Oct.
27-29

Oct. 31
- Nov 1

Nov. 2 - 4

Nov. 5-7

Nov. 8 - 10

Nov.
11-13

Page
Likes

51

101

115

118

120

120

121

122

New Likes

52

14

Unlikes

Compared
to Prev.

0.00%

98.03%

-73.07%

-78.57%

-33.33%

-100.00%

N/A

0.00%

Interactions Based on Posts

Oct.
21-23

Oct.
24-26

Oct.
27-29

Oct. 31
- Nov 1

Nov. 2
-4

Nov.
5-7

Nov. 8 - 10

Nov.
11-13

# post
published

Post Reach

10

320

128

85

90

57

126

consumers

43

16

16

engagement

64

34

12

20

Other than our survey, the most interactive posts were videos.

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Outcomes
18-24 yrs
old

25-34 yrs
old

35-44 yrs
old

45-54 yrs
old

55-64 yrd
old

65+

Total %

Women

33%

13%

3%

9%

2%

0%

60%

Men

29%

6%

0%

2%

0.82%

2%

39%

People Reached

City

Fans

City

Fans

San Marcos, TX

26

Yuma, AZ

Austin, TX

16

Burleson, TX

Fort Worth, TX

15

Corpus Christi, TX

San Antonio, TX

12

Shady Hollow, TX

Eagle Pass, TX

11

The Colony, TX

Houston, TX

Hitchcock, TX

College Station,
TX

Plano, TX

Dallas, TX

Pleasanton, TX

Arlington, TX

Kaiserslautern,
Rheinland-Pfalz,
Germany

Denton, TX

Plainview, TX

Hays, TX

Waco, TX

1
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Crowley, TX

Omaha, NE

Washington,
District of
Columbia, DC

Coryell, TX

Kyle, TX

Jersey Village, TX

Oceanside, CA

San Patricio, TX

Lubbock, TX

Brookline, MA

Charlotte, NC

Dunwoody, GA

Round Rock, TX

VIII. Limitations of the Research

Starlight Research Groups main limitation while conducting this research study was the
inability to reach its target audience, veterans. Considering the topic was very narrow, few
people who were willing to take our survey fit the criteria needed in order to do so. SRG
attempted to submit the survey to veteran-related Texas State University organizations in order
to get the questionnaire to the right people, but none of these organizations responded within the
time necessary for the proper measures to be taken. Taking these two limitations into
consideration, our sample size proved to be quite small causing our margin of error to be too
great, skewing the results of the survey altogether.
Homelessness is a very sensitive topic, which may have resulted in people not wanting to
take the survey. Because of this, SRG members could not simply approach people who may have
been living under the appropriate circumstances as to not offend any party.
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The life that veterans live is only something that they understand. Taking into
consideration possible traumas caused by their enlistment, this also could be a possible reason as
to why some veterans are hesitant to talk about their experiences. Post-traumatic stress disorder
(PTSD), substance abuse, as well as physical and mental illnesses within veterans were also
something SRG members had to be mindful of when putting together the survey and when
speaking to one of the interviewees. These obstacles also may not be something war veterans feel
comfortable disclosing, regardless if the survey was confidential.
Other than these limitations that are specific to the research topic, surveys themselves are
not something in which people are fond of participating. Reasons for not wanting to take the
survey may vary, but possible scenarios could include being too busy, not feeling as if their
response will make a difference, or thinking that surveys are simply pointless or a waste of time.
IX. Managerial Implications
The information gathered from this research may be beneficial for those in management
of VA hospitals, federal relief programs, homeless shelters and other non-profit organizations.
This research lays out specific factors that contribute to veteran homelessness, which is helpful
to those who aim to eliminate or alleviate those factors. This research also evaluates the
effectiveness of current programs and proposes alternatives or solutions to those problems. This
may be beneficial for management that aims to enhance the quality of their service.
When it comes to the mass communication field in particular, this information would be
particularly helpful for those who work within the PR or advertising field for the above
industries. A PR professional who works for the government may want to better know the needs
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of their client base (veterans) in order to relay back to the government agencies what they need
to do in order to make their product (federal programs) more attainable or marketable. In
addition, a PR professional who works within the non-profit industry will need to understand its
audiences needs in order to attract a client base back to the organization. This will, in turn, bring
in more donors in the long run.
X. Analysis and Results
RQ1: According to the literature, a distinction needs to be made between first-time and chronic
homelessness. Factors found to contribute to first-time homelessness include post-incarceration
and self-diagnosed mental health disorders. For chronic homelessness, substance abuse, mental
health problems, or diagnosed bipolar disorder were significantly associated. In contrast,
physical health disorders, hypertension, heart disease, and joint pain disorder were significantly
associated with first-time homelessness. The literature also provided 5 primary roots of veteran
homelessness: Pre-military adversity, military trauma and/or substance use, post-military
interpersonal violence, post-military mental illness and/or medical issues, and unemployment.
Other related factors contributing to veterans homelessness discovered by literature reviews and
in-depth interviews discuss the burden of veterans losing their personal identity. Young veterans
entering in their early twenties have only known a structured way of living. Some veterans
struggle when they have reached serving their duties make the transition into civilian life. The
interviewee stated the importance of recognizing your personal identity and finding yourself and
leaving your service-member personality aside. According to Enhancing Veterans Success in
Higher Education, when veterans are making the transition they are looking for relative forms of
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communication so they can make the connection from what they are familiar and use to while
serving in the military. Other contributing factors were those that had previously had lower status
before entering to serve, would come back and have a higher risk of becoming homeless rather
than not. Homeless veterans that are going through substance misuse disorders are more likely to
fall between the cracks and become homeless again and continue that ongoing cycle unless they
receive help.
RQ2: Currently there are multiple programs in place for veterans returning from service who
wish to either enter the civilian work force or return to school. Some examples of programs in
place for veteran students include scholarships, academic coaching, career services and peer
mentoring. Federal programs in place for veterans in general include the G.I. Bill, the Hazelwood
Act, housing grants, insurance programs, and other compensation benefits. In 2014 First Lady
Michelle Obama announced a call to action across the nation to raise awareness about the rising
number of veterans homelessness. She announced the launch of a program called the Mayors
Challenge to end veteran homelessness. The challenge is to end veteran homelessness in their
state with the help of their community and funding to help support and build facilities to host
individuals. The goal for all mayors who accepted the challenge is by the end of 2015 there will
be no more homeless veterans in your community. The number has not reached the goal as of
November 22, 2015. Veteran Affairs Housing and Urban Development Veterans Affairs
Supported Housing is a program providing subsidized housing for veterans.
RQ3: Based on the results of our literature reviews, current services offered through
government, non-profit, faith-based and other agencies might need to be altered to meet the
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specific needs of those veterans in homelessness. For example, a distinction needs to be made
between first-time and chronic homelessness. There also needs to be a distinction made between
care given to female and male veterans. According to the authors of Literature Review #3,
future research on homelessness and health should focus on identifying different pathways to
health and mental health services for this vulnerable population and the outcomes of these
interventions.
Based on the results of the qualitative research, 30.8% of veteran respondents found the
effectiveness of the programs currently place to be a 2, 1 being not effective at all, and 5 being
extremely helpful.
These findings were reinforced by the opinions of the interviewee from in-depth
interview #2. According to the interviewee, the state of the programs and their offices is typically
depressing and sad. The interviewee found the programs themselves to be helpful, but he was
often caught in too much red tape to even reap the benefits of the programs. He also disclosed
that the Post 9/11 G.I. Bill was the most helpful to him in the long run, despite the issues getting
enrolled and receiving the proper compensation. He found VA hospitals to be the least effective
facet of all federal programs in place to assist veterans. The Mayors challenge has

XI. Appendix
See notes

XII. Bibliography
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Bennett, A., Elliott, L., & Golub, A. (n.d.). Opioid and Other Substance Misuse, Overdose Risk,
and the Potential for Prevention Among a Sample of OEF/OIF Veterans in New York
City. Subst Use Misuse Substance Use & Misuse, 894-907.
Barrett, B., Fogel, S. J., Garrett, J., & Young, M. S. (2011). Assessing health care needs among
street homeless and transitionally housed adults. Journal of Social Service Research,
37(3), 338-350.
Creech, S. K., Johnson, E., Borgia, M., Bourgault, C., Redihan, S., & OToole, T. P. (2015).
Identifying mental and physical health correlates of homelessness among first-time and
chronically homeless veterans Journal of Community Psychology, (5), 619.
Edens, E., Kasprow, W., Tsai, J., & Rosenheck, R. (2011). Association of Substance Use and
VA Service-Connected Disability Benefits with Risk of Homelessness among Veterans.
The American Journal on Addictions, 412-419.
Fargo, J., Metraux, S., Byrne, T., Munley, E., Montgomery, A. E., Jones, H., . . . & Culhane, D.
P. (2011). Prevalence and risk of homelessness among US Veterans: A multisite
investigation. Retrieved from http://repository.upenn.edu/spp_papers/151
Hamilton, A. B., Poza, I., & Washington, D. L. (2011). Homelessness and trauma go
hand-in-hand: Pathways to homelessness among women veterans Womens Health
Issues, 21
Kleyamp, Meredith. Unemployment, Earnings and Enrollment among Post 9/11 Veterans "
(2013). Print.4).
O'Herrin, Elizabeth. "Enhancing Veteran Success in Higher Education." Winter 13.1 (2011):
15-18-4. Print.O'Herrin, Elizabeth. "Enhancing Veteran Success in Higher Education."
Winter 13.1 (2011): 15-18-4. Print.
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Rumann, Corey B., and Florence A. (Florence Aileen) Hamrick. "Student Veterans in Transition:
Re-Enrolling After War Zone Deployments." The Journal of Higher Education.4 (2010):
431. Web.
Tsai, J., Kasprow, W., & Rosenheck, R. (n.d.). Alcohol and drug use disorders among homeless
veterans: Prevalence and association with supported housing outcomes. Addictive
Behaviors, 455-460.

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