An Update on Our Work to Support Veteran Residents

Swords to Plowshares, in partnership with California’s Department of Veterans Affairs (CalVet), is transforming how housing providers serve aging and vulnerable veterans. Veteran Support to Self-Reliance, a 3-year, $25 million pilot, is bringing support and services to formerly homeless veterans now living in permanent housing.  

We’re strengthening on-site services in permanent supportive housing across California so that disabled veterans can age in place and be well. These services are provided by staff embedded in the housing site and include assistance with habitability and self-administration of medication, mental and behavioral health care, food and nutrition services, and health care and appointment navigation.  

We’re joined by three other veteran serving agencies in the effort: U.S. Vets (LA, Riverside & Inland Empire), Nation's Finest (Mather & Sonoma), and PATH (San Diego), serving 420 veterans since 2023. We’re also proud to partner with RAND Corporation to conduct an impact evaluation of the pilot’s service model.

Year 1 outcomes demonstrate the pilot program's profound impact*:  

• Improved Health & Reduced Substance Use: 81% decrease in missed medical appointments; 65% reduction in alcohol use.  

• Reduced Emergency Care: 68% decline in ER visits; 46% drop in 911 calls.  

• Enhanced Quality of Life: Group program participation doubled; 34% reported improved quality of life.  

• Food Security: Veterans eating three meals a day nearly doubled (from 25% to 49%).

• Health Stability: 79% report stable or improved health.  

To read further details, check out the 2025 CA Legislative Report here!  

We want to thank our advocacy partners at NextGen Policy for their invaluable support and guidance to advance Swords’ years-long vision to launch this critical pilot program. We’re also grateful to our funding partners – including May & Stanley Smith Charitable Trust and Google.org – who have supported our work to advance this model! We look forward to advancing a scalable model for ALL permanent supportive housing providers.

*Note that the findings are based on a limited sample of veterans enrolled during the first two quarters of the project, and the results are subject to change as more data and time in program is incorporated into the evaluation.  

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