2025 Annual Report

Learn about
‍Financial Stability

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The Need:

For many veterans, limited income, education barriers, and complex benefits systems make financial stability difficult to achieve without support.

1.
Veterans are facing poverty
Nearly half of veterans we served lived on less than $1,000 per month.
2.
earning a Livable Income is a Challenge
92% were considered low-income under HUD guidelines.
3.
There's a struggle to make ends meet
59% had a high school diploma or less.
Fewer than 5% had completed higher education
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Financial Stability
]
It’s commonly believed that veterans automatically receive financial and healthcare benefits upon exiting the military – but that’s a misconception.

Most veterans are forced to fight for the VA benefits they earned, prove their skills translate to civilian life, and learn basic financial management on their own. Through our services, veterans don’t have to navigate complex systems or the job market alone.

Legal services
We provide legal services for veterans at no cost with the aim to help them win the benefits they earned.
Discharge upgrade assistance
Filing VA disability and benefits claims
Submitting appeals to the VA
Self-help guides that explain how to go through these processes individually
Employment & job training
We provide tools and resources for veterans to succeed in the workforce.
One-on-one career counseling
Vocational training programs
Access to job readiness resources (trainings, clothes, certifications, transportation)
Resume, cover letter, and interview prep
Financial empowerment
We provide one-on-one guidance and group workshops that educate veterans on personal finance.
Help veterans pay essential bills on time via representative-payee and bill pay services
Financial literacy workshops
Help understanding bills, income, and budgeting
Our Impact
Nearly
95
%

of veterans secured full-time jobs with an average starting pay of $31 per hour.

$20 million in lifetime disability income won through legal advocacy

Stable income and healthcare access allows veterans to meet basic needs, remain housed, and plan for the future.

79

veterans completed free vocational training.

93

veterans received financial empowerment support.

Stories of Impact

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Veteran Stories
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“The stability is life-affirming. I have to thank the team who gives me this backbone. It allows me to live life the way I imagined I could.”

Meet Todd Johnson, U.S. Navy veteran

Todd spent three years homeless before connecting with Swords to Plowshares in 2013, and although he dreamed of having his own home and a car, he didn’t know how to start.
While residing in Swords’ supportive housing, Todd enrolled in our financial empowerment services and gained advocates who have had his back every day since. He has received reliable help with his income, including bill pay services, which are crucial to maintaining his home. Now living independently in Park Merced, with a vehicle he purchased, Todd is living the life he dreamed.

Explore the 2025 Report

SECTION III
Learn about Housing
Section V
Learn about
‍Community & Wellness

All Sections

Section I
Introduction
Section II
Client Demographics
Section III
Housing
Section IV
Financial Stability
Section V
Community & Wellness
Section VI
Advocacy
Featured ARTICLE
Where Housing Meets Advocacy
SECTION VII
Our Partners

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