Enhancing Vocational Rehabilitation Services for Homeless-Experienced Veterans in Permanent Supportive Housing

Area of Science:

• Social Sciences
• Public Health
• Rehabilitation Medicine

Background:

• Vocational rehabilitation services are underutilized by individuals with experiences of homelessness.
• Understanding the perspectives of service users and providers is essential for improving engagement.

Purpose of the Study:

• To characterize the perspectives of homeless-experienced persons and program staff on vocational services.
• To explore the relationships between employment, housing, and well-being in this population.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative pilot study using rapid qualitative methods.
• Semi-structured interviews with homeless-experienced persons (n=19) in a permanent supportive housing (PSH) program and vocational rehabilitation staff (n=10).

Main Results:

• Embedding vocational services within PSH facilitated access, continuous support, and care coordination.
• A mismatch exists between available job opportunities and consumer employment preferences/goals.
• Employment was positively associated with improved quality of life and recovery.

Conclusions:

• Integrating vocational services within PSH programs can enhance access for homeless-experienced individuals.
• Tailored vocational services aligned with consumer professional goals are needed.
• Meaningful employment opportunities are vital for recovery and well-being.