Research Brief
Supporting Those Who Served in Massachusetts
Mar 7, 2017
There are numerous resources available to Massachusetts veterans and service members, but there are still pockets of unmet need in the areas of education, employment, health care, housing, financial, and legal services — particularly for newer veterans and National Guard/reserve members. A better understanding of these needs can inform investments in initiatives that target these populations and guide efforts to remedy barriers to access.
An Assessment of Needs, Well-Being, and Available Resources
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Massachusetts is home to approximately 380,000 of the nation's more than 21 million veterans, but there has been little research on the resources available to this population at the state level. There are numerous resources available to veterans and other military-affiliated groups in Massachusetts, but there are still pockets of unmet need in the areas of education, employment, health care, housing, financial, and legal services — particularly for newer veterans and current National Guard/reserve members. Although Massachusetts veterans fare better overall than their peers in other states, they lag behind other Massachusetts residents in terms of health and financial status. Massachusetts veterans and National Guard/reserve members who need support and services face such barriers as a lack of knowledge about how to access services, a lack of awareness about eligibility, and geographic distance from service providers. As the veteran population changes both nationally and in Massachusetts, it will be important for public- and private-sector providers serving Massachusetts veterans and service members to continue addressing unmet needs while ensuring that resources are responsive to shifts in these populations. A better understanding of the unique needs of Massachusetts veterans can help inform investments in initiatives that target these populations and guide efforts to remedy barriers to accessing available support services and other resources.
Chapter One
Background and Methods
Chapter Two
Massachusetts Veterans and the Resources Available to Support Them
Chapter Three
Education and Employment
Chapter Four
Health and Social Well-Being
Chapter Five
Housing, Financial, and Legal Needs
Chapter Six
Understanding Trends and Looking to the Future
Chapter Seven
Conclusions and Recommendations
Appendix A
Additional Methodological Detail
Appendix B
Resources for Massachusetts Service Members and Veterans
Appendix C
Resources for Older Veterans in Massachusetts
The research described in this report was commissioned by The Klarman Family Foundation and conducted in RAND Health.
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