Client Stories

*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.

Douglas's struggle with addiction led to two jail terms over a few decades. Once released, he struggled to maintain stable housing and experienced homelessness several times. Despite these challenges, he wanted a lasting change in his life. Douglas connected with LifeMoves, who helped him enroll in the BSCC Adult Re-Entry Grant Program, which supports individuals formerly incarcerated in a California State Prison.

Working with the staff at LifeMoves provided the foundation he needed to take
the crucial next steps to change his life. The organization offered him more than just a place to stay—the team provided him with a sense of stability and support that he had not experienced in years. With their assistance, he took advantage of the tools and
resources necessary to rebuild his life. "I am very grateful for what the organization has done for me," comments Douglas.

During his journey, he worked with an employment specialist with the Re-entry
program to build a resume and learn interviewing skills, resulting in Douglas successfully finding employment. He also completed the savings and subsidy program.

Guided by his case manager, Christina, Douglas navigated the complexities of
securing housing with newfound determination. Through their partnership, he could confront life's uncertainties with resilience and adaptability. "If you expect life to be a certain way, you're in trouble," Douglas reflected, acknowledging the invaluable lesson
he learned along his journey.

Today, Douglas is a beacon of hope for others facing similar challenges. His
story serves as a reminder that, no matter the obstacles we face, we can overcome adversity and rebuild our lives with the proper support and perseverance.

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 Coast House 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.

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.

Born and raised in San Mateo, Crisanta grew up with and was used to being close to family. When her daughter Mia was born, Crisanta was thrilled – she worked multiple jobs as a single mother to support her new family of two. They lived with Crisanta’s brother, where Mia thrived, spending her days playing with her cousin and bonding with her grandmother.

Crisanta worked hard to support Mia and give her a joy-filled childhood, but Crisanta was struggling with addiction and depression. When building tensions at home finally came to a head, she made the difficult decision to move out, temporarily leaving Mia in the safety and comfort of her extended family.

But the separation from her daughter only compounded her mental health struggles and built a strong desire to ease that pain. Unable to balance her two jobs, she ended up living out of her car for six months. During that time, she was able to visit with Mia during the day, but Crisanta quickly saw that this wasn’t sustainable. She was suffering in the absence of her daughter, and she wanted to build a secure, happy, and stable life for them together.

Initially, Crisanta had doubts about going to a shelter – she had never stayed in one before – but the visits with her daughter reignited her sense of purpose, pushing her to find the best place where they could both stay. In July 2020 Crisanta and Mia arrived at LifeMoves | First Step For Families.

With the warm welcome and support of LifeMoves staff, they quickly settled into a routine, making grocery trips, following COVID-19 safety protocol, and spending time outside whenever possible.

“This was somewhere where I could restart, regroup, [rethink] things and push forward,” Crisanta recalled thinking during her first months at First Step. “It’s hard and lonely sometimes, […but] it really feels like you’re around people who are in the same boat as you and there’s no one here to judge – it makes you feel welcome.”

Crisanta and her case manager check in regularly, reviewing housing logs and job openings, as well as communicating about her mental health and wellbeing. Meanwhile, 4-year-old Mia enjoys playing with the other children at First Step For Families, working on projects with the children’s services coordinators, and zipping around her room during remote activities like virtual dance classes.

In October, Crisanta and Mia joined other families staying at the site for a socially distanced outdoor Halloween celebration (including a full on-site pumpkin patch) hosted by LifeMoves staff. Mia picked a bumble bee costume from the site’s closet of brand-new outfits, and she buzzed around from station to station while Crisanta carved a pumpkin and mingled with her fellow parents.

She made incredible progress to overcome what once felt like insurmountable challenges, but Crisanta is still working towards her biggest goal: giving Mia a home to call their own. She misses her family, especially her mother, and Mia wants to see her grandmother and cousin more regularly.

During her time at LifeMoves, Crisanta has been able to save her money, which will allow her to eventually afford her own place. Equally as important, she has found a renewed sense of self, built confidence in her abilities and her position as a role model and caretaker for her daughter, and fostered her own personal and professional passions to pursue.

While she prepares Mia to start preschool, Crisanta is attending classes of her own so she can finish her GED. Her long-term goals include owning and operating her own boutique, residing permanently in her hometown of San Mateo, and connecting regularly with her mother and family again. Motivated by her own progress and having her daughter at her side, Crisanta knows that they will only continue to rebuild and find their way back to a life full of hope, support, and love.

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.

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.

Born and raised in the Bay Area, Lyvell looked forward to sharing his beloved hometown experiences with his daughter, Lyric, as he watched her grow. He had a stable Public Sector job and remained connected to his family members still living in the area.

But his life, stability, and certainty for the future were upended after a workplace injury in 2018. Even after he recovered, medical restrictions prevented Lyvell from returning to his position, and it was challenging to find a more suitable role within his organization. The process continued unresolved for months.

"I had to depend on the money I had saved, but I fell behind on my finances due to the fact that I couldn't work and had an unresolved workers' compensation case. Essentially, I was put on hold."

After losing their home, Lyvell and Lyric initially stayed with family, but the compounding stress of a pandemic, sheltering together, caring for his daughter, and getting back on his feet strained these relationships. He and Lyric moved into a hotel, but Lyvell knew that he needed to find a more suitable environment for his daughter – at this point, his savings were almost fully depleted.

He called local helplines, but quickly found out that as a single father, many programs wouldn't allow his daughter to stay with him. Determined to stay together, Lyvell kept trying – and in October 2020, he and Lyric found LifeMoves | Redwood Family House.

"It came right on time," Lyvell says of the referral to LifeMoves. "I felt like I wasn't going to have anything to give my daughter in terms of shelter or food. We didn't have any options, so [LifeMoves] was a lifesaver."

He and his case manager, Miguel, came up with a plan to work toward regaining self-sufficiency. "I needed some kind of foundation – a routine – and [Miguel] helped me get started." They went through a housing plan and steps to financial security, which provided useful, applicable knowledge for Lyvell while continuing his employment search and settlement of the workers' compensation case.

Lyvell loved spending time with Lyric when he wasn't working towards his goals – watching her grow and participating in the virtual activities that LifeMoves provides to parents and their children.

After months of hard work, rebuilding his confidence, saving his money, and caring for his daughter, Lyvell was able to afford a place for his tight-knit family of two. They now live comfortably in Hayward, and 4-year-old Lyric will start kindergarten this year.

Lyvell accepted a new role at his organization, but due to COVID-19, the start date was postponed. In the meantime, Lyvell is attending a class to access work-study opportunities and build his resume.

"We were experiencing homelessness for about a year. After a while of going between family's homes, being out on the street, sleeping in vans and hotel rooms – it feels really good finally being here in our own home."