DUBLIN, Ga. — A Laurens County veteran is sharing his story of homelessness, and he's hoping to encourage other veterans to find a way out.
The United States Department of Veterans Affairs says thousands of veterans experienced homelessness in January 2019.
U.S. Army veteran Thomas Edmond knows what that's like. He says he enrolled in programs to better himself and came out on top with a roof over his head, a full time job, and a new outlook on life.
Every weekday morning, you can catch Edmond greeting fellow veterans at the Carl Vinson VA Medical Center.
"I help patients out with some of their problems, I do a little patient advocacy," Edmond said.
Since 2014, he's volunteered at the Dublin VA, but his journey to the desk might surprise you.
"I lived in Miami until I was about 15, and then I moved to Dublin," Edmond said.
Living in a new town he had to maintain his grades while helping his mom out financially.
"I missed a lot of days in school, from school, because I had to help pick cotton," Edmond said.
Despite those obstacles Edmond graduated from high school and joined the Army shortly after.
"The army offered me a lot more, following commandments," Edmond said.
He served for six years spending time at home and abroad in Vietnam. Once he got out of the Army he faced new battles at home.
"Before I stepped into Vietnam, I thought the world was like it was in the United States, and that was not true," he said.
Edmond started getting help for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and substance abuse through programs at the VA, but he would face a new battle shortly after.
"I came back in, and I don't know what happened, next thing I know she was telling us we had to move, and I knew I was homeless," Edmond said.
At that point he enrolled into the homeless program at the Dublin VA. The program helped him find housing while his volunteer work at the VA earned him a job.
"When the opportunity came, when we had a full-time position, I couldn't find a better candidate than to give to Mr. Thomas," Keith Griffin with Volunteer Services at the VA said.
Griffin says Edmond shares a special connection with veterans, showing each of them compassion no matter who they are.
"Things will get better, but you gotta want to believe that, you gotta want to do this, and you gotta have God on your side," Edmond said.
He encourages veterans to seek help if they have an issue.
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