Swords to Plowshares is dedicated to preventing and ending veteran homelessness by providing comprehensive support services through a frontline drop-in center. The organization has recently launched new client-focused groups and activities to better serve the evolving needs of veterans, while highlighting success stories of individuals who have benefited from their programs. Support from donors, like the Home Depot Foundation, is crucial for sustaining their efforts to provide housing and services to homeless veterans.

1. Inside Swords
SPRING 2018
One Veteran Family’s Story
Pages 6-7

2. Dear Friends & Supporters:
At Swords to Plowshares, preventing and ending veteran homelessness is at the core
of what we do. We take pride in working to restore dignity, hope, and self-sufficiency
to all veterans in need. Our model of care is based on the philosophy that the
obstacles veterans may face require an integrated network of support, which is why
we provide comprehensive wraparound services.
The main point of entry to our critical services is through our Frontline Drop-in
Center. Once there, our intake staff and case managers address veterans’ immediate
needs and then continue to work with them on a long-term plan that will utilize our
programs and services to improve their health, economic and housing stability, and
overall well-being.
As the needs of the veterans we serve continues to change, so must our programs
and services. Earlier this year, to keep up these needs, our Frontline Drop-in Center
launched several client-focused groups and activities, including: a wellness group for LGBTQ veterans, a women
veterans group, a support group for homeless veterans, a harm reduction group and 12-step meetings for veterans, a
chess club, and dedicated movie times.
Over the years, Swords to Plowshares has helped countless numbers of veterans overcome adversity, and our
programs and services continue to evolve to meet the needs of our clients. These new groups and activities at our
Drop-in Center were developed thanks to the input of our frontline staff, and have been well-received and attended.
However, the critical services these groups and activities provide need your support. In this edition of our newsletter,
you will read stories that highlight the impact of our frontline staff and a few of those who have recently benefited
from the services our Drop-in Center provides. Please join us in making an impact on veterans’ lives by supporting
these vital programs and services.
Michael Blecker
Executive Director
Vietnam Combat Veteran
U.S. Army, 1967-1970
Issue Contents
Donor Spotlight......................... 3
2017 Year in Review................ 4-5
Cover Feature........................... 6-7
Success Story............................. 8
Giving in Memory............................ 9
Vets Helping Vets Q&A.................10
Upcoming Events............................11

3. In 2017, The Home Depot Foundation awarded Swords
to Plowshares $155,240 to help us build out much-
needed community space at one of our supportive
housing sites, the Fairfax, for 41 formerly chronically
homeless veterans.
After a long and difficult construction process,
Swords to Plowshares is pleased to announce that
our community space is nearly built and ready for
residents to use for engagement, congregate meals,
and ongoing therapy groups. The Home Depot
Foundation has been a champion for organizations
that develop and provide housing for homeless
veterans. Our partnership with The Home Depot
Foundation began in 2012 and has been instrumental
in supporting our efforts to provide safe and stable
housing for homeless veterans.
It is because of supporters like The Home Depot
Foundation, with a strong commitment to housing
veterans, that we can prevent and end homelessness
among the men and women who served our country.
Home Depot
Supports the Fairfax
(Top) Director of Property & Asset Management, Tina DiRienzo,
showcases the view of the new group space, which is visible from
the renovated kitchen. (Center left) The brand new kitchen was the
first project completed by the Home Depot Foundation. (Bottom
left) The residents will have access to a new, gender-netural
restroom adjacent to the kitchen and group space.
| 3SWORDS-TO-PLOWSHARES.ORG
DONOR
SPOTLIGHT

4. INSIDE SWORDS SPRING 20184 |
San Francisco Bay Area homeless, low-income & at-risk veterans
WITHYOUR SUPPORT WE SERVED
homeless at
intake
post 9-11 veterans seniors disabled
45 Bay Area law firms provided free representation to 147 veterans
39 local companies hired our veteran clients
4,060 professionals completed Combat to Community™ training
465 volunteers provided nearly 3,500 hours of service
2 drop-in service centers, 7 supportive housing sites, and 4 ongoing legal clinics
OUR MISSION AT SWORDS TO PLOWSHARES is to end
and prevent homelessness among veterans.We are a nonprofit
organization making significant progress toward ending veteran
homelessness.We operate innovative and ever-evolving programs
to address the immediate needs of vulnerable veterans, and
we do so with the help of our donors and valued partners in the
community who give us the strength to make a difference.
THANKYOU TO OUR COMMUNITY OF SUPPORTERS
2017 YEAR IN REVIEW:
2,706
50% 27% 50% 74%
Swords to Plowshares is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Gifts to Swords to Plowshares are tax-deductible to
the fullest extent of the law.

5. SWORDS-TO-PLOWSHARES.ORG | 5
TOGETHER WE PREVENTED AND ENDED HOMELESSNESS
FOR THOUSANDS OF VETERANS.
EVERY VETERAN DESERVES A PLACE TO CALL HOME
VETERANS WANT TO RESTORE THEIR DIGNITY, HOPE
& SELF-SUFFICIENCY
The veterans we serve work hard to increase their income by securing
employment, VA benefits, and developing money management skills.
To make a tax deductible gift visit swords-to-plowshares.org/donate or mail your contribution to:
1060 Howard Street, San Francisco, CA 94103 • 415.252.4788 • swords-to-plowshares.org
A variety of housing services & programs is a critical first step for veterans
to stabilize their lives.
Our supportive housing programs served 697 veterans
On average, these veterans were previously homeless for 60 months
529 veterans and their families secured permanent housing and
another 189 avoided eviction
We provided 1,567 nights of emergency housing
Upon intake, the average monthly income for our veteran clients was $1,581/month
116 veterans participated in ongoing money management
$16.3
million
won in VA benefits and pension for local
veterans with disabilities by expert attorneys
veterans secured employment, increasing their monthly
income on average by $2,660
Overall, our interventions helped to NEARLY DOUBLE the monthly income
of veterans
160

6. Michael Gonzales served in the U.S. Navy from
2001-2005 and was twice deployed to the Persian Gulf
in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Michael’s first
deployment was during the invasion of Iraq in 2003 and
his naval unit covered the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers
performing search and seizure missions that captured
key Iraqi oil platforms.
After his military service, Michael returned to his
native San Diego. His transition was very difficult and
he found himself dealing with PTSD and alcoholism.
After being incarcerated for minor offenses related
to alcoholism, Michael heard about the resources
and programs at the San Diego VA and decided to get
some help. He enrolled in the APSIRE Center, a veteran
residential rehabilitation treatment program, and
worked with VA counselors to secure stable housing
and achieve sobriety.
During Michael’s recovery, he met and began dating
another U.S. Navy veteran, Leann Patrick. Leann was
a former nuclear engineer and had recently been
medically retired from the U.S. Navy after 12 years
of service. After dating for a few months, Michael
and Leann fell in love and moved in together. Leann
then began to encourage Michael to reach out to his
estranged teenage son to try and rekindle their father-
son relationship.
How a Family of Navy Veterans
Overcame Incredible Odds to Find Stability
Finding Home
INSIDE SWORDS SPRING 20186 |

7. Not too long after reuniting with his son, Michael
found out that he and Leann were to become parents
of a baby girl. The young couple was overjoyed at
hearing this news. However, this excitement was short-
lived, as the parents-to-be found out at 20 weeks that
their daughter had a congenital heart condition and
doctors were unsure if she would survive.
Cardiac specialists advised the young couple to
seek care at UCSF Medical Center, which is a world
leader in performing complex surgeries, including
the repair of congenital defects. Upon hearing this
recommendation, Michael and Leann immediately
moved from San Diego to the Santa Rosa area where
Leann’s family lived to be in closer proximity to UCSF’s
specialized medical services.
Shortly after their move, Michael began to seek out
veterans’ resources to help his family and himself.
Michael was eventually referred to Swords to
Plowshares by a veterans’ outreach worker at the
Wounded Warrior Project. By the time Michael was
put in touch with Swords to Plowshares, he was, as
he called it, “emotionally, mentally, physically, and
financially bankrupt.”
Once he met our team at Swords to Plowshares, he
began working with our staff to enroll in local VA
healthcare, receive employment services, and find
permanent housing. Over the last few months, Michael
has started to regain stability in his life and Leann
received specialized prenatal care at UCSF for their
daughter. On March 8, 2018, the couple celebrated the
birth of Faye, whose heart condition was fortunately
not as severe as doctors originally imagined. Faye has
seen significant improvement since her birth, but is
still being monitored and under the care of USCF’s
pediatric cardiac specialists.
We may have been through the ringer, but me and my
family are doing well. With the encouragement of [Swords
to Plowshares’] staff members like Grant Hower and Bashir
Robinson, I am continuing to be proactive in just about
everything I need to, so I can support my family.”
“
(Above) Michael Gonzales and Leann Patrick pictured with their
newborn daughter, Faye, at UCSF Medical Center.
| 7SWORDS-TO-PLOWSHARES.ORG

8. Verna Burton, a Chicago native, served in the U.S.
Navy (1988-1992), working on submersible pumps
during a time when women were not allowed on
submarines. Despite this challenge, she enjoyed her
time in the Navy and transitioned out of service just
before the start of Operation Desert Storm. Verna went
on to enjoy success in a multiplicity of jobs, including
time as a beauty shop owner, leasing consultant, and a
Greyhound bus driver.
In the summer of 2017, Verna began to research career
opportunities outside of Chicago. She came across a
position at McGee Air Services at the San Francisco
Airport. Verna applied and landed the job and was
slated to relocate and start in October 2017. With her
impending move to the Bay Area, Verna found a place
online, put down a security deposit, and made her way
out to San Francisco.
When Verna arrived in San Francisco, she discovered
that the place she invested her security deposit into
was a scam. Out of money—and nearly out of hope—
Verna searched for resources for veterans to try and
avoid a night on the streets. Verna came across Swords
to Plowshares and frantically made her way down to
our main office and entered our drop-in center, just
two minutes before closing, and broke down crying.
However, Verna’s tears wouldn’t last long, as our Drop-
in Coordinator, LaJune Davis, immediately consoled her
and told her how we could help in this dire emergency.
They filled out all the applications immediately, found
emergency housing for that night, and scheduled
another appointment for the following day to help find
a permanent solution.
Over the course of the next couple weeks, Verna
worked with various members of our staff to not only
find permanent housing through Supportive Services
for Veteran Families (SSVF) program, but also receive
other critical services like food and travel vouchers,
as well as financial assistance to purchase equipment
that was necessary for her upcoming job. Thanks to
the work of our staff, Verna started her new position
without the threat of being homeless in an unfamiliar
area with a low supply of affordable housing options.
Verna has now been at her job for over six months and
has already received a promotion.
(Top Left) From left: Drop-In Coordinator LaJune Davis, Verna
Burton, and Assistant Program Manager of Employment & Training
Philicia Jones (Top Right) Client Verna Burton stopped by Swords to
Plowshares on April 22, 2018 to visit with her counselors.
Success Story: Verna Burton’s Path to Housing
“The staff is just fantastic. Everyone
was wonderful and awesome. You
all covered just about everything I
needed, and I am forever grateful.”
INSIDE SWORDS SPRING 20188 |

9. SWORDS-TO-PLOWSHARES.ORG | 9

10. Grant Hower served in the U.S. Army as
a computer detection systems repair specialist
from 2007-2010. While getting ready to deploy,
Grant was involved in a training accident, which
resulted in a significant head injury and multiple
fractured vertebrae and ribs. Not too long after
the accident, Grant was medically discharged
from the Army, and without the structured
environment military service provided, he
struggled with his transition to civilian life.
Eventually, Grant was referred to Swords to
Plowshares by a former client who received
housing and employment services from us in
2009-2010 (and ultimately became Grant’s wife).
Grant initially came to Swords to Plowshares to
seek help from our employment and training
team, after completing the Department of
Veterans Affairs Vocational Rehabilitation and
Employment (VR&E) program. Thanks to VR&E,
Grant had already obtained his Certified Alcohol
and Drug Counselor (CADC) certification and
didn’t need to look very far for the perfect job.
Based on his education and experience, our
employment specialists suggested that Grant
apply to be one of our community counselors.
He interviewed for the job and was selected from
a group of highly-qualified applicants.
Grant was thrilled at the opportunity to give
back to—and share his knowledge with—the
veteran community. In his role at Swords to
Plowshares, Grant provides case management,
writes referrals, educates veterans about
additional benefits and resources, and runs
a harm reduction group and an AA group for
veterans who are struggling with substance
abuse and other addiction-related issues.
Grant is a model employee and truly exemplifies
our “vets helping vets” model. Grant said the
most rewarding part of his job is clients telling
him that he has helped change his or her life.
VETS
HELPING
VETS
10 | INSIDE SWORDS SPRING 2018
“Hearing things like that is what
keeps me motivated to not only
help more veterans, but to further
educate myself so I can become
an even better resource for them.”

11. SWORDS-TO-PLOWSHARES.ORG | 11
Meet Conductor
Paul Schrage
Swords to Plowshares is proud to host the Summer Solstice
Symphony Concert on June 19 at the historic Herbst Theatre.
Paul Schrage, the concert’s conductor, is an accomplished
pianist and musical director for Symphonia Caritas, a
professional orchestra that plays to improve the lives of
those in need. We asked Schrage about his community work.
We were fortunate to begin a partnership with
Symphonia Caritas for our inaugural concert in 2017,
but how did the organization find its start?
We started in 2015 with a benefit concert for the Lima
Center, a daytime shelter for the homeless in Pacific Heights.
Since then, we have been very fortunate to establish close
relationships with incredible organizations like Swords to
Plowshares.
Can you speak to your personal support of veterans?
Why is it important to you that this concert raises
money for services provided to veterans?
As Americans, my wife and I are deeply grateful to the
veterans who have sacrificed for our protection and
defense. My father was a Vietnam-era veteran, and my
family members have served in almost every conflict
since WWII. The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have more
directly impacted our generation, and I have close friends
who served in both. So anything I can do to give back to
those who served in the armed services is personally very
satisfying to me.
What can the audience at the Summer Solstice
Symphony Concert expect to hear?
The centerpiece of the concert is Jeff La Deur performing
Frederic Chopin’s 2nd Piano Concerto. The concerto matches
Jeff’s artistry so well that it was the clear winner. After the
concerto, we’ll perform Prokofiev’s Classical Symphony. It’s
very accessible and a great introduction to the composer.
Is there anything else you’d like our audience to
know about the concert?
I think there’s a sense among many people who are
not already fans of classical music that you need to be
knowledgeable about it to enjoy it. That may be true of
some corners of the repertoire, but I carefully chose pieces
that are accessible, and whose intended excitement, sorrow,
sweetness, suspense, and tranquility will show through
even to the uninitiated. Don’t worry about knowing what is
“right”– just come have a good time, and you will.

12. VETS HELPING VETS SINCE 1974
Swords to Plowshares
1060 Howard Street
San Francisco, CA 94103
WAYSTO GIVE
We serve nearly 3,000 local veterans each year thanks to the generosity of individual, corporate,
and foundation donors. These resources help us address ongoing and unexpected needs for
homeless and at-risk veterans in the Bay Area. Swords to Plowshares is a registered 501(c)(3) non-
profit organization, and donations are tax-deductible to the maximum extent permitted by law.
The Annual Fund
Honor & Memorial Gifts
Monthly Donations
Matching Gifts
Donor-Advised Funds
Planned Giving
To make a gift, complete and mail the enclosed envelope or visit our website at
swords-to-plowshares.org/donate
The Annual Fund provides immediate
resources that we can invest in the areas
of greatest need.
This is a special way to honor a veteran or
celebrate someone important to you by
making a tribute gift in their name.
Many employers have a matching program
that can double, or even triple your gift. Talk
to your HR department for information.
A recurring monthly gift is convenient and
can fit better into your budget by spreading
a donation over a period of time.
Swords to Plowshares can be a recipient of
your philanthropy by directing a gift to us
from a donor-advised fund.
By including Swords to Plowshares in your will or
trust you will leave a personal legacy and give
back to veterans for decades to come.
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