The State of Knowledge on Female Veterans Experiencing Homelessness: A Scoping Review of the Literature

Abstract

The primary goal of this scoping review was to assess and summarize existing research on homelessness among female Veterans to understand their unique experiences. A total of 52 relevant studies were found and included. All identified studies had been conducted in the United States, with one in the United States and Puerto Rico. The findings provided important insight on services access/utilization, indicating that homeless female Veterans with substance abuse, physical health conditions, and mental health issues have high rates of accessing services; however, there is a lack of housing services available for female Veterans with children. Although the findings revealed many studies conducted in the United States, research investigating the issue needs to be conducted across the international community. In doing so, alternative methods and policies for supporting female Veterans experiencing homelessness can be identified and transferred. In particular, exploratory qualitative studies are needed to further understand the experience of homelessness for female Veterans.