Veterans Needs Assessment in Texas: Findings from a 2024 Mixed Methods Study

Abstract Information: Contracted by the Texas Veterans Commission, the Public Policy Research Institute at Texas A&M conducted a multi-method needs assessment in 2023-2024 to identify the priority needs of the Texas veterans. The mixed methods methodology utilized in the study centered on surveys and focus groups primarily aimed at engaging the Texas veterans and the organizations that serve Texas veterans in an inclusive and comprehensive manner to obtain their feedback regarding topmost service needs, service barriers and key service information sources for Texas veterans and their families. Data was triangulated from three key sources: a statewide veterans survey with 18,412 valid respondents; a statewide organizational survey (of entities providing services to veterans) with 507 respondents; and qualitative feedback from 15 focus group sessions in 8 FVA (Funds for Veteran Assistance) regions attended by a total of 139 veterans and 131 organizational representatives. The key study highlights by the FVA regions presented in this paper not only cross-validate quantitative and qualitative data but also help identify the different dimensions of the veterans’ needs through carefully examining the data convergence and divergence among disadvantaged subgroups such as low-income veterans, veterans with disability, women veterans and other minorities. These findings address a serious gap in systematic studies of veteran needs in the nation and integrally connect with the larger landscape of the need for critically informed utilization and action planning.