Through financial counseling, emergency support, and a personalized plan, we help service members, Veterans, and their families break free from survival mode and build a path to financial wellness. This is how we fight homelessness, food insecurity, mental health crises, and suicide.
This is how we save lives.
Financial stress doesn’t just drain bank accounts - it unravels everything.
Studies Show:
-23% of active-duty service members in suicidal crisis reported a financial stressor within 24 hours.
-Service members and Veterans with savings and no debt report significantly better physical health.
-Finances are the 2nd leading cause of divorce.
When families regain financial control with STEP, they don’t just catch up, they change their entire lives.
Your support doesn’t just pay bills - it prevents homelessness, protects mental health, and keeps families together.
100% of families avoid losing their basic needs, and 90% stay on track for the long haul.
Give once. Give monthly. Just know you’re giving more than money.
You’re giving someone their life back.
Most Americans grow up without any formal education on managing money. So when over 200,000 young adults enlist in the military each year, eager to serve, many do so without the financial tools they’ll need.
They enter a life where stability is hard to come by - and sacrifice is demanded. Then the bills pile up. Savings disappear. One emergency, and everything comes crashing down.
But this isn’t a personal failure. It’s the hidden cost of service.
Stars on Charity Navigator
Of funds go directly to programs
Military households with changed lives
Distributed in emergency funds
New Permanent Headquarters:
8320 Juniper Creek Ln, San Diego, CA 92126
To schedule a tour contact us at info@teamstepusa.org or (858) 695-6810
Behind the past-due bills is something bigger:
Stress that ripples into every part of life. The kind that affects mental health, physical health, relationships, and eventually, hope.
We stop that spiral. Our program isn’t just about solving the immediate crisis - it's about providing the tools to make this crisis a turning point, not a breaking point.
Every family works one-on-one with a certified financial social worker who truly understands military life - because they’ve lived it.
Whether you're in crisis or planning ahead, your social worker meets you where you are - with financial education shaped around your life, challenges, and goals.
If you’re facing the loss of a critical basic need - like housing, transportation, or utilities - we act fast.
Available to:
Your journey doesn't stop when the crisis does.
Your social worker will check in regularly for a full year to help you stay on track and adapt your financial plan when life changes.
Answer a few questions, upload basic docs (like your LES), and you’re set. Spouses can apply too - just list your service member as the applicant and yourself as the spouse.
We’ll review your info and match you with a social worker in 3–5 business days. If you’ve received urgent paperwork (like a 3-day notice), upload it so we can prioritize your case.
You'll receive a call, and your social worker will review next steps with you. To avoid delays, keep an eye out for missed calls and check your inbox and spam folder for emails.
Real stories of hope and resilience from military families.
DeShawn
Service Member
Linh
Military Spouse
Tanya
Military Spouse
Jared
Veteran
Sarah
Military Spouse
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81% of active-duty service members & Veterans report financial stress each year
1 in 4 military families are facing food insecurity - 2x more than civilians
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Veterans are 2x more likely to experience homelessness than the general population
Financial stress is linked to 3x the risk of anxiety & depression
Financial strain triples risk of suicide - the 2nd leading cause of death for Veterans under 45
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San Diego’s Support the Enlisted Project (STEP) Expands Beyond the West Coast
Face the Fight® Awards $16.5M in New Grants to Strengthen Veteran Suicide Prevention
Local organizations join forces to support the military during government shutdown
