Date of Award
2022
Degree Name
Occupational Therapy, OTD
Document Type
Dissertation
First Advisor
Amanda Mohler
Second Advisor
Lynda Nash
Third Advisor
Regina Burkett
Subject Categories
Medicine and Health Sciences | Occupational Therapy | Rehabilitation and Therapy
Abstract
According to the National Coalition for the Homeless, veterans represent one fourth of the entire homeless population, which is approximately 200,000 individuals each night (NCH, 2009). Within Arkansas, it is estimated that more than 500 are homeless throughout the state (Jared, 2021). These veterans are 50% more likely to become homeless than other Americans due to poverty, shortage of affordable housing, lack of social support networks, a number of stress-related conditions, substance abuse, and the disadvantage of their military occupation and training not being transferable when competing for employment in the civilian workforce (VA Office of Inspector General, 2012). Unfortunately, veterans are a substantially underserved population that does not receive adequate training or resources on the post military life skills needed to reach their full occupational performance, which is why the veteran homeless population statistics are alarmingly high. Addressing community reintegration and life skills in the veteran population is a societal priority that needs to be advocated for and better addressed so that they can have proper life skills programs to seek services for their transition deficits. Occupational therapy can play an important role in facilitating better community reintegration, transitions, and life skills of veterans to reduce the factors leading to homelessness.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Recommended Citation
Malone, Hannah Hale, "Serve Those Who Served Us: Life Skills Program Development to Decrease Homelessness in the Veteran Population" (2022). Occupational Therapy Doctoral Capstones. 5.
https://arch.astate.edu/nhp-ot-cap/5
