Research Idea: Military Experience and Homelessness.

[caerbannogbunny]

Research Idea: Military Experience and Homelessness.

Rationale: Military anti-recruitment and other groups cite a higher proportion of military veterans in the homeless population. Their take is the military produces "damaged goods" unable to adapt to civilian life after the military. I propose-if a difference in proportion exists-such a

Comments

[stargazersilent]

Quick note -

I'm not sure I agree with the assumption inherent in your rationale - that veterans have learned to live with adverse conditions (hence why they find it a more acceptable choice than the normal population). I would argue that the military population, specifically and especially the subset which becomes homeless, is from a lower-class background. (That is social class, not caliber.) Thus their upbringing did not necessarily teach them how to succeed in middle-class civilian life, and neither did the military. The military teaches people how to survive - a perfect skill-set for the homeless, and a situation in which the vets can be successful.

[caerbannogbunny]

The why isn't part of this study. First, have to identify whether there is a difference in proportion between vets and non-vets. Second, determine if there is a difference in the number of options.

If there's a difference in options--say 0 or 1 for non-veterans and more for veterans, then can look at why vets choose the homeless option more than non-veterans.

If there are more options for non-veterans than veterans, could investigate why that is.

If there is no difference but more than 0 or 1 option for everyone, can also investigate why they choose homelessness.

I'm also not assuming it's either homelessness or middle class. I mean, many soldiers adjust to "civilian" life pretty well and pretty quickly, some even while in the service. Also, I'm only interested in homeless and not homelss and not particularly social class because lower-class is still not homeless and are "successful" to a degree.