SWORDS TO PLOWSHARES VETERANS RIGHTS ORGANIZATION

Swords to Plowshares aims to heal the wounds of war, to restore dignity, hope, and self-sufficiency to all veterans in need, and to prevent and end homelessness and poverty among veterans. To accomplish our mission, Swords to Plowshares continually adjusts, adapts, and expands our outreach and programs to meet the changing needs of veterans. Our staff emphasizes quality over quantity in terms of our services and will continue to provide holistic support to help veterans gain long-term stability and independence. Wrapped within our overarching organization goal, Swords to Plowshares aims to:

• Reduce veteran homelessness in the Bay Area to a functional zero by providing eviction prevention and re-housing services for veterans, and housing veterans in our supportive housing facilities
• Increase access to Department of Veterans Affairs’ healthcare benefits and disability compensation for underserved veterans through legal recourse
• Increase meaningful employment for veterans experiencing unemployment or underemployment and student veterans by providing employment and training services that promote job attainment and retention
• Promote and protect the rights of veterans by advocating for effective national, state, and local policies

At Swords to Plowshares, we understand that the barriers veterans face during their transition to civilian life are interrelated and require an integrated network of support. As a result, we developed a wraparound continuum of care that holistically addresses many of the health and stability barriers veterans may experience while adjusting to civilian life. Our veteran-specific supportive services work in unison to stabilize veterans by addressing issues including homelessness, unemployment, and lack of access to healthcare. By helping veterans overcome barriers to their health and stability, we enable them to succeed in achieving long-term independence.

For our homelessness services, Swords to Plowshares relies on an evidence-based, cost-effective approach to addressing homelessness known as “Housing First.” This model recognizes that homelessness is first and foremost a housing problem, and that issues that contribute to a veteran’s homelessness can best be addressed once they are housed. The Housing First model prioritizes providing homeless veterans with housing as quickly as possible coupled with voluntary supportive services to promote housing stability and individual well-being.

In addition to direct supportive services, Swords to Plowshares’ Policy Department advocates nationwide for improved care and services for veterans. Our staff train community professionals, including law enforcement, medical personnel, hiring managers, and community service providers, on veteran cultural competency. Our professionally-accredited Combat to Community© training enables professionals to better identify and support veterans they serve.

Ultimately, Swords to Plowshares’ vision—a community where all veterans have access to the care and services they need to rebuild their lives—drives us to continually develop innovative and responsive services to best meet veterans’ changing needs.

Swords to Plowshares has provided veterans with supportive services since 1974. With more than 45 years of expertise, Swords to Plowshares is nationally recognized as a model for veteran services and a leading advocate on veteran issues.

Swords to Plowshares prides itself on its peer-based, vets-helping-vets approach; our Executive Director and the majority of our Board of Directors are veterans. Our organization’s leadership provide expert knowledge and experience in serving veterans as well as the high-level skillsets required to provide agency oversight and innovative program design to meet veterans’ emerging needs.

Swords to Plowshares is one of the few organizations in the Bay Area that provides comprehensive, veteran-specific support for all veterans. As experts, our staff members regularly present best practices for serving veterans at statewide and national conferences. Each year, we provide veteran cultural competency training to thousands of community service providers, and legal training for hundreds of attorneys representing veterans in cases before the Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Defense. In our dual role as veteran service provider and veteran advocate, Swords to Plowshares is uniquely positioned to identify and address the changing needs of veterans and their families.

Our experienced staff, strong history of community collaboration, fiscal strength, and ability to provide critical services assure our capability to responsively and effectively serve veterans in need.

Swords to Plowshares has been at the forefront serving and advocating for veterans since 1974. We are nationally recognized for our model programs, expert leadership, and continued dedication to fighting on behalf of our nation’s veterans. We work closely with our partners in local and federal government to end veteran homelessness. Together, our efforts have reduced veteran homelessness in half since 2012. Our successes also include:
• In 1978, Swords to Plowshares became the first organization in 32 years to be granted certification to represent veterans in legal cases for VA benefits. One year later, we won one of the first PTSD cases in the country.
• In 1988, we began a stabilization housing program in San Francisco, and another in 1992.
• In 2000, we opened the first permanent supportive housing site for veterans in the nation.
• In 2002, a Governor’s report named us one of the best state programs serving the homeless.
• In 2008, Swords to Plowshares developed a Combat to Community veteran cultural competency training for police officers, clinicians, employers and service providers.
• In 2009, we expanded to the East Bay; our Oakland Service Center now provides our complete continuum of care for East Bay veterans.
• In 2012 and 2014, Swords to Plowshares opened two more permanent supportive housing facilities for veterans with disabilities.
• In 2016, we launched a national effort to advocate for the inclusion of veterans with “bad paper” to gain access to VA healthcare and benefits.
• In 2017, we launched a Medical Legal Partnership with the Oakland Vet Center—the first community-based MLP with a Vet Center in the nation.
• In 2020, Swords to Plowshares and Chinatown Community Development Center opened a new permanent supportive housing site in Mission Bay for 119 homeless veterans and low-income families; and broke ground on a 105-unit housing development for veterans on Treasure Island.

For 45 years, we have helped thousands of veterans secure permanent housing, employment, and increased healthcare and income. Swords to Plowshares serves more than 2,500 veterans each year across two service centers, eight supportive housing sites, and legal clinics throughout the Bay Area. We will remain at the forefront of veteran issues and services, continually evolving to best address the emerging needs of veterans.