Client Stories

Robert's journey from homelessness to finding a home was driven by his resolve and the community support he received through LifeMoves. It all started when he returned from military service, only to find his family gone, and subsequently grappled with the harsh reality of life without shelter for four years. Eventually, he ended up in a rehabilitation program through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) until he ultimately connected with LifeMoves Montgomery Street Inn (MSI).

Robert came to MSI and accessed every available service to him. From getting his identification at the DMV to managing his new bank accounts and social security, he navigated these mazes with determination and help from his case manager, Sylvia. Dialysis was also a routine part of his life, and the MSI staff arranged transportation for Robert to and from treatment three days a week. To account for an old injury, Sylvia helped him get a brand-new scooter through the VA, just in time for his birthday. Robert often attended one-on-one and group therapy sessions, offering him a semblance of peace amidst the turmoil of his past.

After first arriving at MSI, Robert admitted he had a "bad attitude," reflecting on his initial hesitancy to accept assistance. This partly stemmed from being in disbelief about his situation. With encouragement from Roxanne, MSI's program director, he could begin to see things differently. She saw beyond his tough exterior, recognizing him as a fun-loving spirit people enjoyed and wanted to be around.

Towards the end of his stay at MSI, he took a pivotal step towards independence. With support from LifeMoves, he transitioned to a housing complex through the Veteran's Affairs Supportive Housing program (VASH). Unfortunately, he experienced a setback when an illness landed him in the hospital for over a month. During this time, Sylvia, his dedicated case manager, visited him regularly,going above and beyond to ensure his needs were met.

After this, he returned to his apartment and was surprised when the program director and associate program director showed up at his new place with furniture. Together, they furnished his new home, marking a fresh chapter in his life. The support he received from the LifeMoves staff, especially his case manager, Slyvia, left a lasting impact on him.

As he settled into his new home, Robert reflected on his journey with gratitude. "I had a great relationship with all of them at the site. MSI will always be in my heart," he remarked. Despite the challenges of adjusting to civilian life, he found solace in his newfound independence and the support of those who stood by him.

*Name and likeness changed to respect client's request to remain anonymous

Everyone carries a compilation of life experiences that impact their life and world views. Daniel's journey is full of challenges, starting in childhood and spanning almost 30 years, but his story is also full of hope.

"We all have a story. Mine included alcoholism, incarceration, running away, losing a spouse, and abusive relationships. Now, I just want to live my life normally, and I'm grateful for the support from LifeMoves, especially from my case managers. Vanessa is confident in me, which means a lot," says Daniel.

Daniel is in his mid-40s, and his story is one of courage and resilience. It began with a challenging childhood, resulting in PTSD and severe anxiety. Holding down a job was difficult, and when his wife of 20 years died in 2016, Daniel not only lost her support but also the home they shared.

He moved in with a friend.

"But the environment was unhealthy for me," he says. "He had serious health issues and was using drugs, and I was the caretaker. It wasn't working."

In mid-2023, Daniel made the courageous decision to walk away and found himself at a Salvation Army shelter. A month later, he moved into one of the LifeMoves sites.

Vanessa, Daniel's case manager, explains that he was very quiet and kept to himself at first. She stressed the importance of opening up and asking for support. Vanessa was also instrumental in encouraging Daniel to take advantage of the LifeMoves programs, especially those supporting mental health.

LifeMoves offers therapy to clients and in Daniel’s case, also supported a neuropsychologic assessment, to test brain function and provide Daniel and his support team a better understanding of his behavior.

"I was scared out of my mind to share," says Daniel. "But Vanessa worked with me closely, and I've gotten more comfortable." And Vanessa is excited about his progress. "He's grown so much. He knows that help is here, and that it is safe to ask for support."

While Daniel's challenges around anxiety haven't gone away, his confidence is growing, and he is hopeful about the future.

Victor, born in the United States, had trust issues, and understandably so. His parents divorced before he was born. His mother then abandoned him at 40 days old, and Victor went to live with his grandparents in Mexico, who raised him as their son. Victor’s biological mother was partially in his life, but under the guise of being his older sister. At the age of 18, his mother revealed she was not his sister but his mom. She told him his father was in California and wanted to meet and get to know him. He was united with his father at the tender age of 20. He was again abandoned, this time by his father, at the age of 22 years old. The strain of being on his own with no support was too much, and his mental health suffered, and he became unhoused.

Pacifica Resource Center was doing outreach in the Half Moon Bay area and convinced Victor to go into interim housing, and he found himself at LifeMoves.

Victor began working on his mental health with the Mental Health Association but was not ready to trust anyone or engage in any other services. For the first three months, he did not physically stay at the LifeMoves site but would check in with his Case Manager daily without fail. “I had been through so much with my family that I could not trust anyone. I felt I couldn’t ask for help because I didn’t deserve it. If my own parents didn't want to guide and support me, why would anyone else?” Said Victor.

He grew despondent and resigned to return to the creekside encampment and find a way back to Mexico and his grandparents. Elisa, his case manager, pleaded with him not to return to the encampment. She offered to get him back to Mexico but insisted he would need his documentation. Elisa commented, “once he had his identification and social security card in hand, something clicked, and he started asking for help and driving his life forward".

My Case Manager was there for me all those months and helped me see that there could be another path.” Said Victor.

He asked for help, got online, started looking for housing, and enrolled in a training program with Vocational Rehab Services, where he was learning job skills and English. At 24, Victor is now housed and employed in Pacifica.

“Before I came to LifeMoves, I struggled to imagine life beyond the streets.” Said LifeMoves client Clarence.

After losing his wife, Clarence battled homelessness for years, grappling with his sobriety along the way. His journey to recovery began when he connected with LifeMoves partner IMAX, who specializes in recovery support. He initially stayed at LifeMoves Maple Street, the now closed congregant site, before transitioning to the recently opened San Mateo County Navigation Center in 2023.

With his years of being unhoused, one of his challenges was creating a vision of being housed. “I didn’t think I would ever have a roof over my head. I needed to believe in myself that I could make this happen.”

Toni, his LifeMoves case manager, worked with him to access services to build his future. He learned how to develop and manage a budget and worked closely with an employment specialist to create his resume and start applying for jobs.

Toni coached him on interviewing and presenting himself to employers and landlords. He also continued to look for housing.

Through consistent hard work and embracing the vision of being housed, Clarence obtained a voucher for a Below Market Rate apartment in Palo Alto in June 2023. Working with a LifeMoves partner, Ecumenical Hunger Program, Clarence filled his home with furniture and stocked his pantry with food to prepare for the next chapter in his life.

Ady’s story began in October 2021 when she received an eviction notice. A mom of two, including a two-month-old, she shared an apartment with her partner, his mother and sisters. With a new baby, she was not working at the time, and the family of seven was three months behind on their rent.

She immediately reached out for assistance from the Fair Oaks Community Center where they found support to move into two hotel rooms. In January they moved into the LifeMoves First Step for Families site in San Mateo.

“It was a complete blessing,” Ady said. “My two-year-old was so excited to move from a hotel to a house again, and I was happy that our family of seven had its own space. There were days I couldn’t afford diapers or have time to prepare food. The staff supported us with everything. We were safe and had everything we needed so I could focus on finding a job and a home.”

From the start, Ady worked closely with her LifeMoves case managers to take advantage of the services LifeMoves provides, including onsite childcare, therapy and credit repair.

“Therapy was really important,” Ady said. “I thought that going to the shelter was the end. It hit me hard and the support I received made me realize I didn’t have to give up.”

By July Ady was employed as a financial bookkeeper at a tech company. One day at work, her LifeMoves case manager Marissa Patterson gave her a call to tell her she was accepted into the Rapid Rehousing program.

The Rapid Rehousing program provides 12 months of tiered rental assistance and services to help clients find and move into housing and increase their self-sufficiency, so they stay housed. The county qualifies clients based on several requirements, including current employment.

LifeMoves Rapid Rehousing case managers like Marissa, have 60 days after qualification to work with their clients to find housing, provide move in support and serve as an advocate with landlords. They continue to support the client in the year afterwards.

“We are here to teach and support, but the client does the real work. In Ady’s case, she was on it from the beginning. She ran into a challenge with her first application because of her previous eviction. She applied to two other apartments but was unsuccessful. I finally found something on Craig’s list. Ady was resilient from the beginning,” said Marissa.

Marissa went to the landlord to explain how the subsidy works and advocated for Ady. She shared financial information, as well as the case management support that would be provided to Ady for an entire year.

The support that comes after getting housed is important. It is designed to stabilize and keep people housed. Case managers and their clients have 1:1s each week, meet in person twice a month and work together to monitor and revise savings plans. Career goals and overall support plans are also part of the discussion.

Ady was told the apartment was hers the day she went to view it. “I burst into tears on the way to the car. I kept thinking, this is it. I finally have a place to call home,” she said.

Ady is now focused on her job, building her savings, and enjoying her new space.

“I’ve never had a place on my own and I’m finding myself,” she said. “LifeMoves and my case managers were here for me and never gave up on me. They showed me I could be successful on my own.”

After 10 years as a U.S. Navy nurse, Laura Green earned a master’s degree in nursing and worked at various hospitals across California. She settled in Palm Desert. The pandemic gave her the opportunity to become a stay-at-home mom for her four children, ages 11 to 14 years old.

When Laura’s 20-year marriage suddenly dissolved, she was left with four children, no income, and no place to call home. She contacted the Veterans Case Manager at Haven Family House. LifeMoves immediately offered a unit at Haven Family House. Laura drove overnight from Palm Desert to Menlo Park for an intake the next morning.

Without delay, she connected with the VA HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH) team for a housing voucher and scheduled job interviews. She was quickly hired as a Supervisory Nurse at El Camino Hospital in Mountain View, with a starting salary that gives her family financial stability. The VA HUD VASH team expedited her housing request. Two weeks later, Laura and her children moved into their new home in San Jose.

Laura leveraged a partnership with LifeMoves to amplify her gifts, talents, resilience, and determination along her path to secure full-time employment and a safe, permanent home. Not only is Laura housed, but she is also a newly appointed member of the LifeMoves Board, bringing the power of her lived experiences to inform our approach.

In 2011, Adel was honorably discharged from the US Army after 3 years of service. He looked forward to settling down and starting a family with his wife, Fatima.
They rented a home in South San Francisco, where Adel started a limousine service working out of San Francisco International Airport. He saw immediate success and rapidly grew his business, adding staff and vehicles to his fleet.

In 2015, Adel and Fatima were thrilled to welcome their first child, a son named Yussaf. With a thriving business and happy family, Adel was confident that this is where he would stay, raise his son, and grow old with his wife.

Suddenly, COVID-19 hit, and with nobody traveling, Adel rapidly lost customers. “It was a really tough time,” he recalls. “There was no business, no money coming in.” Adel was forced to close his business that he’d spent 9 years building from the ground-up. Shortly after, the family lost their home.

“[My wife and I], we both come from big families. I’d never been homeless before. I lived in the same place for 11 years, so it was hard. It was hard just thinking about it, where to go, what’s next…it felt like every door was locked.”

The family was able to stay with friends for a few weeks, but Adel knew they needed their own space. By a stroke of luck, a friend mentioned that the San Francisco Veterans Affairs may be able to offer assistance, and Adel called right away. Craig, Case Manager at LifeMoves, received the call. He heard Adel’s story, took down all his information, and just days later, Craig reached out to share that a private, 1-bedroom unit was available at LifeMoves | Haven Family House. The family arrived at LifeMoves in April 2020.
Adel remembers the feeling of relief as they settled into their new space: “Being here [at Haven Family House], I say [my] thanks every day. Every time I wake up, I feel good, and I know my family is safe.”

Adel quickly got to know Craig and the rest of the LifeMoves team at Haven. Staff always knew where to find him around the site, picking up trash, potting plants outside his family’s unit, or offering a helping hand. Adel persistently followed his case plan, working one-on-one with Craig to search for employment and apply for housing vouchers.
“Every time I see [Craig], I think, ‘it’s all good.’ That’s how it is. ‘Anything you need,’ he says. Even if there’s nothing, he knocks on my door to say, ‘hey Adel. How are you doing? How’s your son?”

5-year-old Yussaf attended online classes with his fellow kindergarteners, and Adel and Fatima enjoyed getting to know their neighbors, especially other Veterans and their families. “It’s a haven, this place – it’s the right name for it. It feels like home, basically. I get up every morning; I clean up around the area, I pick up any trash. It’s a good push to the next life.
When I move, I’m going to look at everything differently.”
As his family established a routine, Adel had more time to continue looking for work. He diligently saved his money, and with Craig’s help, he was able to secure a housing voucher through the VA Supportive Housing Program.
Adel and his family were overjoyed to find a beautiful home of their own – a cozy apartment in Mountain View where they even have a backyard to enjoy. The family moved to the apartment in December and Yussaf is enrolled in a local school.
Reflecting on a tumultuous year, Adel stresses how important it is never to give up: “[Being homeless], it’s a very scary thing. I tell everyone, ‘if that happens to you, just do not lose hope.’ Before, I had money – I never thought I’d be homeless, but no. Be humble in life, be nice, and appreciate it.”
Despite losing his business and his home of over a decade, Adel never lost his spirit. As the LifeMoves team can attest to, he is incredibly warm, constantly expressing his gratitude and appreciation for others, and never fails to greet a passing neighbor with, “hello, my friend.”
Adel also expressed his desire to give back to the LifeMoves community, “Anytime, anything, you just call me — I’ll be the first one; put my name up, anything, I’ll volunteer.”
Still as hard a worker as ever, Adel continues looking for long-term work to ensure his family’s security in their new home. From 8 AM to 11 PM, he drives for Uber but unfortunately, passengers are few and far between.
“My plans for the future...I’m going to be happy, that’s the first thing. I’m going to stay happy; I’m going to stay positive. I’m going to look for work. If I could help anybody not to go through it, I’ll help.”

“LifeMoves came along at just the right time. My case manager was so supportive – she never gave up on me, which encouraged me to not give up on myself. That’s how I got myself out of a bad place and into a fresh beginning.”

Before coming to LifeMoves, Alice had been living unhoused for almost twelve years. She lived in a studio and supported herself for decades in Half Moon Bay, but after losing her job in 2008, she could no longer afford rent and was forced to move out – to the streets.

Alice received a referral from the COVID Relief Program and came to LifeMoves Coast House after the program opened in 2021. From the start, she was proactive in working with her case manager, utilizing all the programs and benefits offered, and creating relationships and a positive, supportive environment with her peers and fellow residents.

With a lot of hard work and help from her case manager, Alice saved her money and found the perfect apartment for herself. She received a housing voucher and, in October 2021, moved into her own place in Pacifica. After 13 years, Alice lives and works again on the coast, and she is hopeful for her bright new chapter.

People can and do change for the better – even after decades of challenges. Here at LifeMoves, we see this change happen every single day as our clients put in the hard work to improve themselves and their lives.

Since he was 19 years old, Jeff struggled with drug use and his deteriorating mental health, experiencing symptoms of anxiety and depression but never seeking treatment. He lived at home with his parents, but eventually, tensions came to a head, and Jeff’s parents wouldn’t allow him to live there anymore. “I was doing drugs. My family didn’t want me at the house, so they kicked me out, and I never went back.”

That moment was a catalyst for the next 20 years. Jeff succumbed to his addiction and made increasingly self-destructive choices, spending time in and out of prison. But after almost two decades without a home or job, Jeff resolved to change his course. His probation officer referred him to LifeMoves and, in May 2020, Jeff moved into Julian Street Inn (JSI).

“Jeff came to JSI with a negative self-image. His entire identity was shaped around his background, his criminal record, his addiction, and just general dissatisfaction for the world and how he exists in it,” Fannie, Case Manager at LifeMoves, recalled.

The transition to staying in a shelter was difficult, but Jeff was determined to improve his life. He diligently followed his case plan, applying for any job listings he found and saving his money. While he met some suggestions with resistance and frequently got discouraged, Fannie responded with patience and firm encouragement.

“Fannie and I butted heads; we’re both stubborn. But she called me out on stuff, and it did help.”

Despite setting aside a considerable amount of money and showing progress in his return to stability, Jeff had doubts about whether he was ready to support himself. “It was challenging because I suffer from anxiety and depression, fear of the unknown. I didn’t want to leave JSI until I knew I had a stable, permanent job.”

He attended therapy and leaned on staff for support. Jeff became close friends with one of his dorm mates who, after starting a new job himself, referred Jeff to the same company. Jeff started as a temp making n95 masks, and, after six months of hard work, he was hired full-time.

Having saved close to $3,000 and confident in his stable employment, Jeff moved out of JSI in January 2021 and into a shared room in a sober living environment in Santa Clara. He has been sober since May 2018, and he remains grateful for his job, continued friendship, and time at JSI.

“Just being productive really helped,” Jeff shares. “[Fannie] got me to do the things I needed to do and helped me become a better person – it means a lot to me.”

Jeff looks forward to his independence, spending time with his girlfriend, and moving into his own place soon. He reflects on his more than 20-year journey: “Homelessness isn’t the end; there’s always a way to get out of a situation if you put the work in. [LifeMoves] helped me so I wasn’t stuck in the same rut I was in before. It’s always possible to move forward.”

Micalia never thought that she’d become homeless – let alone as a single mother with four children. After separating from her partner, Micalia’s single-income household wasn’t enough to support her family. She lived in her car for three months while her children stayed in a safe location. Motivated by one goal – to reunite with her children, Micalia found LifeMoves | Villa, where she and her kids stayed for 8 months. “[My case manager] built up my confidence a lot,” described Micalia of her time at Villa, where she worked hard - committing to regular counseling, returning to full-time work, and ensuring her kids stayed engaged in school. Suddenly after 6 months of hard work and ready to move into her own home, COVID-19 hit and Micalia was furloughed from her job. Although disappointed, the staff at LifeMoves made sure she never gave up. Eventually, she returned to work and with her savings and stable income, Micalia and her children were thrilled to move back to a home of their own – empowered with life skills, financial tips, and a new community with their LifeMoves family.

Lisa was only 25 years old when she went through a painful divorce with her husband. At first, she looked forward to her independence and had high hopes for her future. A Bay Area native, she was close with her family and leaned on them for support. But she didn’t know how to deal with the loss of her marriage and in her own words, “I started to run wild – before I knew it, I opened my eyes and years had gone by.”

Lisa began to rely more and more on alcohol and she suddenly found herself alone and without a home – even her mother who lived close by in Burlingame wouldn’t speak to her due to Lisa’s struggles with alcohol. Eventually, she moved into a shuttle bus which she parked in front of a friend’s warehouse.

After 1.5 years, Lisa again found herself without a home – the warehouse owner couldn’t afford the rising rent and her shuttle bus was immobile. She gathered the last of her life savings and her aging dog Molly and purchased an RV where she would spend the next 2 years of her life.

“I lived in my motorhome on the street – no electricity, no water, and I would just imagine how having a home would feel. My dog was getting old and I wanted her to have a comfortable place as she got older.”

Finally, good fortune and hope struck. Lisa bumped into LifeMoves Case Manager Victoria Asfour who was meeting clients at St. Vincent de Paul during breakfast service. Lisa was exhausted and knew she was finally ready to put in the hard work needed to secure housing.

“I said to myself - Lisa, let’s flip the script. Let’s try something different because this isn’t working.”

Lisa was extremely committed – she met with Victoria twice a week to search for housing, create budgets, and fill out rental applications. She had a strong desire to give back to her community and spent time doing art projects with children who would volunteer at LifeMoves | Vendome. Due to her frequent walks with Molly, Lisa quickly realized that there were many apartments for rent that weren’t visible online – only advertised via signs in front of the building. Victoria and Lisa started driving through neighborhoods, writing down phone numbers from “for rent” signs and tirelessly calling landlords.

“Vickie just didn’t give up. She was right here and held me responsible. I needed that discipline and it felt good. I needed a schedule.”

After only a few short months of working with Victoria, Lisa received the keys to her own one-bedroom apartment. While overwhelmed at first, the weight of living on the street and constant worry slowly faded away and was replaced by a sense of security and peaceful, purposeful days.

I’m artsy – I’m into crafts and arts. I paint. I’m very creative and my dog keeps me busy, I walk her every 2 hours or so as she’s getting older. I’m able to accomplish things every day. Right now, I’m into painting chairs. I’m proud of them! I didn’t know I had that artistic skill because I didn’t have the opportunity.

It’s been two years since she moved out of her RV and into her apartment. She’s organized, she has bank accounts, she has electricity and running water. Lisa now makes sure to accomplish something every day, whether that be exploring her newfound artistic side, taking care of her aging dog, or seeing a friend, she enjoys having a sense of routine and a sense of purpose.

“Every day I wake up grateful that it could be done. I was the last person that I’d thought could have anything to put a smile on my face for. All these years out there in the street, I always thought “me, it’s not going to happen.” But you know what? It did. It changed my whole world around. I have a smile on my face every day, I won the lottery – that’s what it feels like. If you want it bad enough, you can do it. I am so grateful.”

Born, raised, and established in San Francisco, Ronald always pictured living out his years in the comfort of his house, supported by his work in trucking and booking convention shows.

But in 2003, a tragic work accident left him permanently disabled. His neck was severely injured, third and fifth vertebrae crushed, and his hip broken. Ronald gradually regained mobility, but the emotional and psychological impacts remained. He stopped working, left his home, and fell deep into drinking.

Ronald started traveling to Reno, staying night-to-night in hotels, drinking, and partying. The days became a blur – "that's the point I can't remember," Ronald admits. "I didn't have my own place for about four years." He found himself back in the Bay Area, riding the bus around local neighborhoods and catching sleep when he could. His drinking had become intense and debilitating.

Then Ronald met Victoria (Vickie) Asfour, Case Manager at LifeMoves (now Program Director of the Homeless Outreach Team). She introduced herself and gave him her business card.

"I put it in my pocket and left it for five months or so," he admits. "Then one day I decided, I got tired of the way I was living. So, I called [Vickie], and everything started changing."

With Vickie's help, Ronald started Alcoholics Anonymous. He attended meetings, saw Vickie regularly, and made great progress. But his path to healing, improvement, and self-sufficiency was far from easy.

"Vickie knew I was drinking when I stopped showing up and started making excuses. She would just drive around, find me in bad condition and say, 'I think it's detox time.'"

Heavy alcohol intake took its toll on Ronald's body. "I was drinking myself to death. I was drinking holes in my stomach, and I started throwing up blood. [Vickie] found me one day, and she rushed me to the hospital."

"She saved my life. The doctor said that had I been out there for another week, I'd be dead."

After he was released from the hospital, Ronald resolved to get back on track, prioritize his health, and quit drinking. With determination and hard work, Ronald got sober, and saw both his physical and mental health improve. Vickie invited him to events at LifeMoves | Vendome where he reconnected with old friends and befriended the Vendome staff.

"I had a couple of friends that were living in the [Vendome]," Ronald shares. "We're all doing well – that's what's so good about it. We all hung out together on the street, and we all turned our lives around."

Ronald managed to save enough money to afford a place of his own, and, with Vickie's help searching and applying for housing, Ronald finally moved into his own apartment in South San Francisco.

In December 2020, Ronald celebrated his two-year anniversary of being stably housed.