While many people like to blame drug addiction and mental illness, some of the more serious research on homelessness suggests the lack of affordable housing is a driver.
May 03, 2021 2:00 PM
Providing veterans with temporary financial assistance helps them get into stable housing and also reduces their health care costs, according to a nationwide study led by University of Utah Health researchers. Photo credit: Getty Images
Ensuring that veterans have stable housing not only reduces homelessness but also slashes the cost of providing them with publicly funded health care, according to a national study led by University of Utah Health scientists. The researchers found that veterans who received temporary financial assistance (TFA) from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to acquire or retain housing had fewer hospital visits and an average reduction in health care costs of $2,800 over a two-year period than veterans who did not receive this benefit.