About Us
War causes wounds and suffering that last beyond the battlefield. Swords to Plowshares’ mission is to heal the wounds, to restore dignity, hope, and self-sufficiency to all veterans in need, and to significantly reduce homelessness and poverty among veterans.
Founded in 1974, Swords to Plowshares is a community-based, not-for-profit organization that provides counseling and case management, employment and training, housing, and legal assistance to more than 1500 homeless and low-income veterans annually in the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond. We promote and protect the rights of veterans through advocacy, public education, and partnerships with local, state, and national entities.
Interesting Fact
“Recently, there has been a lot of negative coverage about the amount of money veteran’s service groups spend on fundraising. Swords to Plowshares is very happy to report that 96 cents of every dollar goes toward helping veterans and only 4 cents of that dollar goes toward fundraising. For more information, please contact Swords to Plowshares development department at development@stp-sf.org or (415)252-4788 x343.”
Accountability
Every $1 used to support Swords to Plowshares’ Legal Services to help disabled veterans obtain the benefits resulting from their military service generates more than $26 in benefits directly to the veterans. For example, in the last fiscal year, 31 cases were resolved, yielding an average lump sum award of $25,289 for each veteran; 30 veterans disabled by their military service will receive lifetime benefits averaging $19,853 annually, plus more than $200,000 in VA health care benefits.
