This is the final story in Mission Roll Call’s series on the realities of veteran homelessness in America. You can find Part I and Part II on the MRC website. 

When you meet Yvette Jones-Swanson, you quickly realize she is a force of nature. A woman of resilience, unwavering determination, and boundless compassion, she has dedicated her life to helping those who, like her, have faced unimaginable hardships. Her work in the Chicago metro area has transformed the lives of thousands of veterans, giving them not only shelter but dignity, security, and hope.

Yvette’s journey began on the west side of Chicago in CHA housing, where she grew up surrounded by a family deeply connected to military service. Nearly all of her relatives who served were in the Marine Corps. In a decision that made her stand out even among her own family, Yvette joined the Army. Inspired by her brothers and the examples they set, she enlisted through the Delayed Entry Program just three weeks after graduating high school while simultaneously enrolling at Northern Illinois University.

Her early military experience, however, turned into a nightmare. During basic training, she endured relentless sexual harassment and assault from her drill sergeant. Isolated and unsure where to turn, she suffered in silence. The trauma led to severe anxiety attacks and heart issues, which ultimately resulted in her being medically discharged. Returning home, she struggled to adjust. Without a support system in place, she dropped out of college and found herself adrift, trying to rebuild a life shattered before it had the chance to truly begin.

In the years that followed, Yvette faced a series of personal crises that would have broken many. She married a Marine, only to find herself trapped in an abusive relationship. When she turned to the VA for help, she was turned away. “I said, ‘I’m a veteran, my husband is actively serving. But he’s abusive and I have nowhere to go. I need help,’” she pleaded. The VA offered no assistance. One night, she fled to the YWCA in Evanston, Illinois, where she was assaulted by another resident who was armed with a gun. “I knew what it was like to get punched, or slapped, or choked. But I was scared of a bullet,” Yvette explained. “So, I went back home.”

Pregnant and still in an unsafe situation, she returned to her husband, hoping for a change. Instead, she suffered more abuse and was transported to the hospital. Devastatingly, it led to the loss of her stillborn daughter, Lydia Juanita Maria.

She was still in school at this point but without a job. “It was the worst life I could imagine,” she said. But despite these hardships, Yvette never gave up. She left her husband and lived in her car, eventually securing a job with the City of Chicago’s Department of Revenue. “My managers never knew I was homeless those first weeks,” she shared. Yvette came to work on time, stayed late, even got promoted. Eventually, she found stable housing of her own.

Yvette later worked her way up to lead a task force overseeing single-room occupancies (SROs). During her time in this role, she saw firsthand the extreme poverty and housing insecurity that so many faced, including emancipated youth, seniors, and disabled individuals.

“I saw how poor people lived in those single rooms, and I thought, ‘Wow, if I knew there was this $350 room, I could have borrowed money and stayed for a month or two.’ I just didn’t know about it. And I wondered how many others didn’t know about it either.”

Her answer came when she started meeting homeless veterans. Yvette decided to get her real estate license and leverage her experience navigating the complex system of housing. When the HUD-VASH program—designed to help veterans secure permanent housing—was reintroduced, veterans in need flooded the system. The VA social workers were overwhelmed. Recognizing the urgent need for housing solutions, Yvette stepped in, leveraging her connections to identify thousands of rental units owned by investors and property managers. Through her relentless advocacy and direct action, she has helped more than 5,000 veterans find stable housing in the Chicago metro area.

Her work didn’t stop there. Yvette became a trusted resource for veterans navigating the complexities of homeownership. One veteran, facing a rent hike, asked her if buying a home was even possible. She guided him through the process, making his dream a reality. That was her first home sale as a realtor, and from then on, she committed herself to ensuring that veterans had a place to call their own.

Then, Yvette had a heart attack. While lying in the hospital, she was still working—negotiating a housing contract for a veteran. “God didn’t keep me, so I’m going to keep going,” she said. She recovered, but the experience was a wake-up call. Doctors prescribed a long list of medications, but over time, she decided to take control of her health, eventually weaning herself off them.

A year later, COVID-19 struck, and she contracted the virus, spending eight days in the hospital and nearly losing her life. When she finally awoke, she saw a masked woman standing over her. “I said, ‘Are you my angel?’ And she said, ‘No Yvette, it’s Dr. Carla.'” Dr. Carla had been a homeless female veteran a decade prior, and Yvette had helped house her and her 10-year-old daughter. Now, Dr. Carla had become a physician and was standing over Yvette’s hospital bed, delivering a message: “Your job is not done.”

“That moment changed everything for me. It reminded me that this isn’t just work. It’s a mission.”

Those words reignited Yvette’s purpose. She is now a steadfast leader in the fight against veteran homelessness, currently scheduled to conduct 25 housing workshops in partnership with the Jesse Brown VA, Forest Park Vet Center and City Colleges of Chicago. Her work is not just about securing housing—it’s about creating opportunities, restoring dignity, and ensuring that no veteran is left behind.

Today, Yvette continues that mission as the Veterans Housing and Wellness Coordinator at the Jesse Brown VA Medical Center’s Community Resource and Referral Center (CRRC), where she develops impactful programs for veterans in need. She also serves as an Advisor for the Women in Leadership Certificate Program at Valparaiso University and is a member of the Jesse Brown Mental Health Council.

Through her organization, VetMentors, she has built a network of resources to address the unique challenges veterans face. Her advocacy reaches even further through the VetMentors Live Broadcast, in partnership with the Cliff Kelley Show-America’s Heroes Group, where she amplifies veteran issues and solutions on a national stage.

Her contributions have been recognized at the highest levels, as she holds certifications as a Minority-Owned Business Enterprise (MBE), Woman-Owned Business Enterprise (WBE), and Veteran-Owned Small Business (VOSB)—a testament to her unwavering dedication to those who have served.

In the battle against veteran homelessness, she is an unstoppable force. And as long as there are veterans in need, Yvette isn’t going anywhere.  

But she can’t do it alone. Her story is proof that one person’s determination can make a monumental difference, but it also shows that lasting change requires collective action. Mission Roll Call is committed to amplifying veteran voices, enacting change at the highest levels, and ensuring that no veteran is left behind.

If you or someone you know has a story to share, join us. Speak up. Get involved. Together, we can fight for real solutions, just like Yvette has done—one veteran at a time.