Vets Helping Vets since 1974

10 years after the end of the Vietnam War, "Welcome Home" parades began springing up to honor veterans.

Swords began its first transitional housing program with the purchase of a housing site to operate out of in the Tenderloin district of San Francisco.

Michael Blecker and other advocates founded the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans (NCHV).

Stand Downs are organized throughout California, enabling groups like Swords to connect with unhoused veterans and provide a multitude of services in one place with other veterans organizations.

Swords and four California organizations founded the California Association of Veteran Service Agencies to improve services for California's veterans and educate our communities.

Veteran activists and advocates exposed the military's knowledge of toxic exposure. At the same time, Swords created the Gulf War Self-Help Guide to enable impacted veterans with the tools to access care they deserve.

Swords opened the country's first veteran-specific permanent supportive housing site. Located in the Presidio, the buildings were renovated from Army barracks to hold 108 units for unhoused veterans living with disabilities and PTSD.

Swords' Treasure Island Transitional Housing Program launched as a first step to recovery for hundreds of veterans, and ignited our work to transform Treasure Island from a retired military base to an environment where veterans could heal from their military experiences.

Responding to the needs of Post-9/11 veterans, Swords established a Policy department tasked with increasing awareness of the diversity, experiences, and stereotypes that are connected to the veteran population in the United States.

Swords developed the Combat to Community training to educate service professionals and other advocates on how to better interact with veterans needing assistance. This training enhances awareness of the unique lived experiences of veterans navigating their return to civilian life. Learn more here.

Swords expanded in the East Bay to offer housing assistance services to veterans and veteran families.

Swords launched its Veterans Pro Bono Program, connecting veterans with free and necessary legal support.

Swords expanded its permanent supportive housing program with the opening of another housing site, Veterans Commons, and converting more transitional housing units on Treasure Island.

Former Labor Secretary, Hilda Solis, visits Swords.

Swords continued expanding housing for veterans with a new site in downtown San Francisco, holding 130 studio apartments, and opening a low barrier stabilization program.

Swords launched a national effort to advocate for inclusion of veterans with "bad paper" to gain access to VA healthcare and benefits.

Michael Blecker was appointed by Speaker Pelosi to serve on the Commission on Care to examine the current and future state of the Veterans Health Administration.

In collaboration with Chinatown Community Development Center, Swords opened Edwin M. Lee Apartments for 62 veterans and 56 families.

Swords & NextGen Policy successfully advocated for a pilot program to improve housing stability for aging and formerly homeless veterans in California. The pilot allocated $25 million dollars from the state to support a higher level of services for veterans over the age of 55 with high-acuity and who reside in permanent housing sites across California.

Swords opened the Veterans Community Center, a unique space with extended hours of operation for veterans to connect over meals, attend regular support groups, and access resources at their own pace.

Michael Blecker is honored by Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi as her guest at the 2024 State of the Union address, commemorating Michael's lifelong commitment to veterans and decades of collaboration between the Congresswoman and Swords.

Michael Blecker steps down after 45 years, and Tramecia Garner becomes executive director. With more than a decade of dedicated service at Swords, Tramecia has advanced through key roles and knows the organization inside and out.