After defending their home and country, more than 300 veterans became homeless and slept on the streets in search of employment.

It’s Veterans Day,bay area Events are organized across the country to pay tribute to the men and women who served our country. However, while paying tribute to veterans, issues such as housing, mental health and reintegration into society that many face after military service have come into focus again. Santa Clara County’s most recent homeless count showed that there were 378 veterans who were homeless in the county, the majority of whom were living on the streets.

san francisco The Interfaith Center at the Presidio celebrated Veterans Day Wednesday with a worship service inside the historic church. Former Speaker of the Federal House of Representativespelosi (Nancy Pelosi) participated in the event. Honorary Executive Director of Veterans Services Organization “Swords to Ploughshares” was invited to deliver the keynote address at the event. The organization has been helping veterans obtain housing, medical and other support services for more than 50 years, serving approximately 3,000 veterans every day.

However, for some veterans, the end of their military careers does not mean the end of their hardships. Williams, 29, served in the U.S. Army for more than three years as a military police corrections specialist and was involved in the management of detained personnel both foreign and domestically, NBC Bay Area reported.

After returning from the army and returning to civilian life, William faced family problems, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other personal difficulties, and eventually lost his home. He said he was originally trying to help his family, but some personal events happened and he had no place to go. “During that process, I tried to help them, but something personal happened and I lost my place and had no place to go,” Williams said.

In addition to housing issues, he also lost the support system he had received during his military career. He said, “In the past, I was used to the sense of community and camaraderie among my peers. But after I retired, that no longer existed and I felt a little isolated.”

William is not an isolated case. Austin Reagan, who lived on the streets for four years, said he noticed that some soldiers began drinking during service and continued drinking after being discharged. As life progresses and the person begins to live on the streets, the problem of drug addiction may also arise. Reagan pointed out that veterans often need to rediscover their career direction and life goals after leaving their original troops and comrades. Losing familiar community support can make them more isolated as they adjust to civilian life.

After receiving help, William is now learning computer skills and receiving career counseling. He said they now have a place to live and have re-established a supportive relationship like that of brothers in the Army.

As far as advice for other struggling veterans, Williams said: “Don’t be afraid to ask for help.”

After completing his current training program, he plans to continue studying for a cybersecurity and business-related degree to prepare for his return to the workplace and his future life.