Financial Crisis Leads to More Than Past Due Bills
And we’re here to stop it - before it spirals.
Our Mission
To combat homelessness, food insecurity, mental health crises, and suicide through improved financial wellness for military and Veteran families.
Our Growth
From Southern California to a nationwide presence, we are expanding to make sure every military family has access to this program.
Restoring Hope. Changing Lives. Permanently.
We support service members, Veterans, and their families in financial crisis or chronic stress - the kind that threatens security, safety, and hope.
We step in to prevent homelessness, stop food insecurity, and break the cycle that fuels mental health crises and even suicide.
But we don’t hand them solutions; we help them uncover their own strength and chart a new path forward.
The Cost of Crisis - and What It Really Looks Like
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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 civilans
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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.
Leadership Rooted in Lived Experience
STEP’s CEO and Co-Founder, Tony Teravainen, knows the hardships military families face.
When a medical condition abruptly ended his Navy career, he felt the rushed transition to civilian life - with no time to prepare, no clear path, and no safety net. That lived experience fuels his leadership at STEP.
As the son of a career Air Force father and a Veteran himself, Tony leads with empathy and understanding, seeing his own family in every one we serve.
Journey from Local to National Impact
STEP began its mission in Southern California.
But the growing demand, and our commitment to the mission, has driven us to expand our reach nationally.
2012
STEP was founded in San Diego in 2012 by veterans who knew the unique challenges of military life. Without strong financial education, those pressures easily spiral into crisis.
They wanted more than a Band-Aid; they wanted lasting change.
With our Vice President, an experienced social worker dedicated to helping people in crisis, the Financial Wellness Program was born.
From the start, our focus has been clear: stop this crisis in a way that makes it their last.
Growth
STEP expanded to Washington State in 2020, building new partnerships and continuing to support military families across more regions.
This expansion served as the foundation to build upon as we set our sights on expanding nationally - to bring the same high-impact model to more military families.
2023
As demand surged and the cost of living skyrocketed, we knew we had to do more. So we launched a campaign to expand our capacity and grow our team to meet this rising demand - nationwide.
Since then, we've:
2033 and Beyond
We aim to add all 50 states to our guaranteed service area over the next decade and beyond.
Our goal is to ensure that every service member and Veteran has access to the tools they need to break free from financial stress and build the future they envision for their family.
Client Testimonials
Real stories of hope and resilience from military families.
DeShawn
Service Member
Linh
Military Spouse
Tanya
Military Spouse
Jared
Veteran
Sarah
Military Spouse