Meet Zack Wolff

It’s a misty morning on Polk Street, and 36-year-old U.S. Air Force veteran, Zack Wolff, steps out of Locals Barbershop for a cup of coffee between clients. He pauses to reflect on how far he has come. “When I was homeless, I’d pass by Locals and think how one day I’d love to work in a shop just like this one. Who knew that I would make that dream happen.”

Zack’s path to self-sufficiency was hard. At 18, he was already battling substance use disorder and depression. Motivated to figure out his life goals, he joined the military. “I really thrived in the Air Force,” he recalls. “I was a golden boy – I ranked number one in all my programs. But I was young, and I wanted to party. I convinced myself that being a civilian would give me more freedom.”

After two years of service, Zack was honorably discharged. He moved from upstate New York to San Francisco, hoping for a clean slate, but what followed were years of struggle. He found himself fighting addiction and homelessness in the Tenderloin for five years. During his last year before seeking addiction treatment, he slept on the streets. “I had burned every bridge,” he says.  

His turning point came when he was given the chance to detox and start recovery at the Salvation Army Harbor Light Center, where he learned about Swords to Plowshares. With support from Swords, Zack applied for HUD-VASH housing, had his rent covered while attending barber school, and received help furnishing his first apartment. That foundation gave him the stability to rebuild his life and pursue the career he had once only dreamed about. “Anyone who has served should not feel burdened to accept help,” says Zack.

Today, Zack is doing what he loves – cutting hair and building community as a barber. For Zack, service didn’t end when he left the military. “I joined during wartime, and I did the best I could,” he reflects. “I’m still trying to be of service, and that’s what being a part of the military means to me.”

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