NASHUA — After living in the woods and out of a car for several months, Rochester veteran George DesJardin found a way to turn his life around and get off the streets for good.

DesJardin, 56, spent several months at a Manchester shelter before finding the Dalianis House in Nashua, a safe-haven for New Hampshire veterans. There, he was able to obtain necessary counseling, budget training and a voucher that enabled him to move into his own apartment just two weeks ago.

“I have been down to the bare basics of living, and it is somewhat of a culture shock to now be introduced back into the mainstream,” admits DesJardin, who said he is proud of his accomplishment.

DesJardin said the temptations of alcohol, drugs and even suicide can be too much to handle for some veterans, especially those suffering with post-traumatic stress disorder.

“It is tragic, really. But there are opportunities out there, you just have to be proactive,” he said Thursday while attending New Hampshire's Stand Down event for homeless veterans.

Harbor Homes, in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and a grant from the U.S. Department of Labor, hosted the annual event. Its mission was to provide veterans with relief from the dangers, trauma and isolation of homelessness, supply them with basic necessities and raise community awareness.

The event joined together numerous service providers, volunteers and professionals. Winter coats, T-shirts, socks, boots, toiletry items and food were distributed to about 170 veterans who walked through the door. Free legal services, tax services, health care information, haircuts, and employment counseling was offered at Thursday's event.

“Our veterans need jobs and need employment. There are many sleeping down by the river who are too proud to go into a shelter or housing program,” said Linda Lurvey, an employment specialist with Harbor Homes.

Employers need to understand that $8 an hour is not enough to get these homeless veterans back on their feet, according to Lurvey, adding many of the men and women looking for jobs are clean, sober and willing to work.

“But these are slave wages, and unfortunately many of the veterans become complacent,” she maintained. “We need more general labor jobs for them.”

About 40 vendors participated in the fifth annual Stand Down event, offering free goods, services and advice for those willing to accept it.

“We usually get a lot of older vets seeking help, but this year there are a good amount of younger veterans coming for assistance. These men are 25 and 26 years old — they are still babies,” said Andrea Reed, program manager at Harbor Homes.

Michael McCarty, 25, of Nashua, said he was grateful to get a free haircut courtesy of SuperCuts. McCarty, who served in the Marine Corps, said he is struggling to find employment.

“I am trying to get a job, but there is not much construction work out there right now,” he said.

Raymond Radgik of Nashua is currently on disability and living with his girlfriend.

“This city is getting too wild for me. There are too many homeless people here, and it is really sad,” said Radgik, thankful that he has a roof over his head.

According to the Government Accountability Office, there are between 423 and 600 homeless veteran families in New Hampshire. Harbor Homes, a local nonprofit group founded 30 years ago, was recently awarded a $1 million grant to help combat homelessness among state veterans.

The funding is being used to help prevent or end homelessness among 300 low-income veteran households, and help New Hampshire achieve its goal to the be the first state in the country to effectively end veteran homelessness.

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Kimberly Houghton may be reached at khoughton@newstote.com.