Transportation needs and associations with healthcare needs among homeless-experienced veterans: Evidence from the 2022 CHALENG survey

We examined whether transportation needs of Homeless Experienced Veterans (HEV) were associated with healthcare needs. This study conducted secondary analysis of data from the 2022 CHALENG survey, a national cross-sectional survey of currently homeless and formerly homeless Veterans (n = 1992) on various needs related to clinical and social determinants of health domains. The association between transportation and healthcare needs was evaluated through a two-phase hierarchical logistic regression (95 % confidence). HEVs who reported getting their transportation needs met exhibited high odds ratios of meeting their health needs across primary care [OR: 13.94, p < 0.001], behavioral health [OR: 7.33, p < 0.001], dental care [OR: 5.91, p < 0.001], hygiene care [OR: 6.84, p < 0.001], and eye care [OR: 6.14, p < 0.001] relative to HEVs who did not get their transportation needs met. However, Veterans with 1 or more dependents under 18 living with them had lower odds of meeting their needs in primary care [OR: 0.51, p = 0.009] and behavioral health [OR: 0.46, p = 0.005]. Further, HEVs who reported having their housing at risk in any way also had reduced odds of meeting their health needs such as behavioral health [OR: 0.51, p = 0.002]. Notably, dental needs were an unmet need, with only 30.4 % of HEVs meeting their needs compared to behavioral health (80.3 %) and primary care (75.6 %). Although transportation is a predictor of health needs for HEVs, housing risk and the increased burden of caring for dependents may reduce the likelihood of Veterans not meeting their health needs. Future research is needed to explore the ways Veterans get their dental needs met and to examine how having dependents may affect access to healthcare. • Meeting transportation needs was associated with meeting health needs for Veterans. • Homeless Veterans reported meeting their transportation needs at lower rates. • Veterans in rural contexts were less likely to meet their transportation needs. • Veterans whose housing was at risk were less likely to meet their healthcare needs. • Veterans with underage dependents were less likely to meet their healthcare needs.