The challenges of measuring homelessness among armed forces veterans : service provider experiences in England

Wilding, MA

Abstract

This study investigates the measurement of homelessness among Armed Forces
veterans in England, starting from the strikingly low figures in local authority administrative
data returns compared to the USA. Findings from stakeholder interviews revealed awareness
of more homeless veterans than identified through the local authority homelessness return,
although presentations varied between organisational types. Participant perspectives on the low
official numbers included both veteran- and institutional-based explanations, ranging from the
perceived reluctance of veterans to present to homelessness services, through to the centrality
of priority need and the exclusion of those supported outside of the statutory homelessness
system. Reforms to administrative data-based statistical returns are suggested in the
conclusion.

Citation

Wilding, M. (2020). The challenges of measuring homelessness among armed forces veterans : service provider experiences in England. European Journal of Homelessness (Online), 14(1), 107-122

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Apr 13, 2020
• Online Publication Date: Jul 7, 2020
• Publication Date: Jul 7, 2020
• Deposit Date: Jun 17, 2020
• Publicly Available Date: Jul 7, 2020
• Journal: European Journal of Homelessness
• Print ISSN: 2030-2762
• Electronic ISSN: 2030-3106
• Volume: 14
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 107-122
• Publisher URL: https://www.feantsaresearch.org/public/user/Observatory/2020/EJH/EJH_14_1-RN3-Web[1].pdf
• Related Public URLs: https://www.feantsaresearch.org/en/publications/european-journal-of-homelessness