AMES Director Brian Moore and Social Demographer Chris Hess presented the Senate Veterans’ Mental Health and Housing Committee with an overview of the center, in addition to specific issues relating to veteran care, including suicide, loneliness, and housing and food security.

"Georgia has one of the country's fastest growing and most diverse military populations," Moore said. "The AMES Center works at multiple levels to ensure we understand the full scope of veterans' health and wellness concerns statewide. We are proud to have been involved in this initiative and to assist in shaping the future of care, research, and veteran health initiatives across the state."

Moore shared the findings from an assessment of 5,500 veterans across 134 counties, resulting from an AMES partnership with the Georgia Department of Veteran Services (GDVS). The findings showed Georgia veterans experience suicidal ideation and lack health insurance at twice the national average. Additionally, one in three veterans reported they have nobody to call for help in an emergency, while food insecurity impacts more than 10 percent veterans.

Moore urged policymakers to consider proactive solutions, indicating that consistent health insurance and support can reduce long-term healthcare costs and improve outcomes. He also recommended expanding GDVS funding to centralize the state’s veteran resources and improve collaboration with other state agencies.

Hess highlighted demographic disparities within the homeless veteran population, noting that Black veterans represented one-third of Georgia’s veteran population yet two-thirds of homeless veterans. Senior veterans are also disproportionally affected, with 25 percent spending more than half their income on rent and utilities. In general, 40 percent of Georgia veteran renters spend more than 30 percent of their income on rent and utilities, while 20 percent spend more than half their income.

To address veteran homelessness, Hess suggested increasing capacity at Georgia War Veterans Homes — skilled nursing care homes for eligible war veterans located in Augusta and Milledgeville — and leveraging rural metal health initiatives to improve data collection and housing outreach.

The Senate Veterans’ Mental Health and Housing Committee is chaired by state Sen. Chuck Payne (District 54) and includes state Sen. Shawn Still (District 48), state Sen. Ed Harbison (District 15), state Sen. Rick Williams (District 25), state Sen. Josh McLaurin (District 14).

The committee released its findings and recommendations following its fifth meeting on November 20, 2024.

AMES, which partners with four state and 40 municipal agencies in Georgia to address veteran health issues, conducts multidisciplinary research to enhance the health and well-being of military, and emergency services personnel, their families, and communities.

AMES strives to be a national model of excellence in research developing innovative, comprehensive solutions for the military, and emergency services communities' health, wellbeing, and performance.

— Story by David Roberts