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WWW.AGRM.ORGMARCHAPRIL 2016 11 Vulnerable Veterans The ravages of war can extend far beyond physical injury According to research by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC not only are veterans overrepresented in the homeless population but veteran status is also associated with increased risk for homelessness after controlling for race sex and age. The gravity of the situation increases when the data is controlled for poverty Veteran status was associated with more than a two-fold increase for men and a three-fold increase for women in the odds of becoming homeless the CDC found. Male veterans in the 45- to 54-year-old age group had the highest risk of becoming homeless and made up 41 percent of the homeless veteran population. The CDC also found that the risk of being homeless is magnified for black veterans who are living in poverty. For example for the youngest age group living in poverty more than half of black male veterans and more than 30 percent of black female veterans were homeless compared with only 7 percent for nonblack males and 12 percent for nonblack females according to data from the Homeless Management Information System. The Veterans Administration VA has found a higher rate of homelessness at each year of the first five years after discharge compared to nonveterans and about half of these veterans became newly homeless after three years of being discharged. This suggests a window of opportunity for preventing veterans from becoming homeless after dis- charge from active duty reports the VA. Those veterans who did experience homelessness after military separation were younger enlisted with lower pay grades and were more likely to be diagnosed with mental disorders andor traumatic brain injury at the time of separation from the military than their civilian counterparts. The VA also found that the presence of mental disorders mental illness andor substance-related disorders was the strongest predictor of becoming homeless after discharge from active duty. We found that 7883 percent of the newly homeless diagnosed with mental disorders at the end of the study were diagnosed before they became homeless according to the VAs report. Thus it may be beneficial for VA homelessness primary prevention efforts to focus on the treatment of veterans with mental disorders as well as on their housing risk. Adapting to normal life back home often proves to be very difficult for those who have served. Unable to cope some choose to leave homes loved ones and jobs behind for homelessness andor addiction according to the National Coalition for the Homeless. Veterans often become homeless due to war-related dis- abilities according to the National Alliance to End Home- lessness. Difficulties readjusting can give rise to dangerous behaviors including addiction abuse and violence which coupled with the difficulties can lead to homelessness.