2025 Annual Report

Learn about Housing

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The Need

For many veterans, even short gaps in income can quickly lead to housing loss.

1.
Nearly 4 in 10 veterans
who came to us were homeless or atrisk of homelessness
80% were living unsheltered
2.
41% of veterans
were living below the federal poverty line. That's $15,650 per year, per federal 2025 guidelines.
3.
The bay AREA HOUSING CRISIS
In one of the most expensive housing markets in the country, income disruptions are the leading pathway into homelessness.
job loss and eviction ranked
among the top three
reasons veterans reported
becoming homeless.
With rents now averaging:
$2,977/month for a one-
bedroom in San Francisco
$2,385/month in Oakland
[
Our Housing Model
]
Housing is the first step for veterans to achieve lifelong stability. Everyone’s path is different, and our staff works with each veteran to determine the housing that fits best with their situation. ‍

Veterans living in our housing sites have the opportunity to uplift their lives with access to resources that support paths to stability, wellness, and finding community. We also help veterans secure and maintain housing in the community through rental assistance and eviction prevention – deploying $7M+ in direct financial assistance this year, and are already underway to increase that to $9M in 2026.

Swords to Plowshares manages six permanent supportive housing sites, which provide homes and onsite supportive services for 500 veterans in San Francisco. We’re thrilled to announce the development of new supportive housing, creating another 185 affordable homes for veterans! By 2027, after renovations are complete, we will be opening two new housing sites: 629 Post St. and 1035 Van Ness Ave.

[
Our Housing Model
]
Housing is the foundation for health, recovery, and long-term stability.
01
A Veteran Comes to Swords

A veteran comes to Swords to Plowshares seeking housing assistance, and our staff assesses their housing needs to understand their current situation, urgency, and risk factors.

1
02
Detemine Housing Options

When a veteran is unhoused, we take the next steps based on whether they are unsheltered or sheltered.

If veteran is unsheltered
On availability and service area
2
03
If the Veteran is Sheltered

If a veteran is sheltered, we connect them to the permanent housing option that best fits their needs, including:

Independent housing placement
Permanent supportive housing
3
04
If the Veteran is at Risk of Eviction

If a veteran is at risk of eviction, we provide rental and utilities back-pay assistance to help them remain housed.

4
Our Impact
$
4.18
Million

invested in rental assistance

We provided 11,325 nights
of emergency housing
552

veterans stably housed in permanent supportive housing with onsite care

388

veterans secured or maintained permanent housing through placement, rental assistance, and eviction prevention

[
Veteran Stories
]

“Swords helped make my dream to live in the Bay a reality. We got everything we needed to make it feel like home.” 

Meet Erica, U.S. Army veteran

As a single mother, Erica made the decision to move herself and her two kids to the Bay Area from Kansas so they could live somewhere that reflected their values. When she was younger, she lived for a time in the East Bay with her grandmother and came to love the area’s diverse community and food.
However, her move back was rough – she was unable to find a stable home that welcomed her children, resulting in her family bouncing between motel rooms and her car. In late 2024, she connected with Swords, and we helped her into emergency housing right away. Erica and her family celebrated the start of 2025 housed in their own apartment in Emeryville.