1、D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 3 P O L I C Y B R I E FNeeds AssessmentVeterans in the Western United StatesBy Phillip Carter and Katherine KidderVeterans in the 12 western states account for nearly one-third of all veterans nationwide,including a mix of large,dense veterans communities in urban areas and vet
2、erans dispersed across vast rural and mountainous areas.The overwhelming majority of veterans in the western United States do well after they leave the military,with higher than average employment and income and better results for other socioeconomic indicators than their nonveteran peers.However,so
3、me veterans struggle to adjust to civilian life or suffer later in life with issues relating to their service.In the western states,our research found that these veterans struggles often relate to broader community issues where they reside,such as the shortage of affordable housing in high-cost area
4、s like the San Francisco Bay Area.This policy brief summarizes the results of a needs assessment conducted by the Center for a New American Security(CNAS)between August and November 2013,focusing on veterans in the western United States.Research involved exten-sive qualitative research on trends in
