LifeMoves

We are honored to be included in Magnify Community's new #HousingJustice brief alongside incredible local nonprofits working to help solve the housing and homelessness crisis in Silicon Valley. The challenges of homelessness and lack of affordable housing are complex and require a cohesive community effort. Our part at LifeMoves includes our continued work empowering unhoused families and individuals with the tools and resources needed to return to stability. Together, we can drive change and help eradicate housing inequities in our communities. Learn more here: https://bit.ly/3rgmrlC

Chris was struggling with intense household stressors and symptoms of bipolar disorder when he came to LifeMoves | New Haven Inn. In addition to caring for his ailing father and managing his own mental health, Chris felt unaccepted by family members after coming out as trans. Despite these trying circumstances, Chris approached each new day and opportunity with optimism. With help from his case manager, he learned essential skills to manage his bipolar disorder, regain confi...dence, and work toward a hopeful new chapter in his life. Chris regularly applied for jobs, attended counseling with a LifeMoves student therapist, and even started his own passion projects, a fiction story and personal biography. After five months at New Haven Inn, Chris was able to reconnect with his family, who happily welcomed him back home. Our work supporting hardworking individuals like Chris is made possible by your support. Donate today to help fund a client’s journey home.

Our clients’ long-term success is fundamental to our mission of solving local homelessness. To support ongoing success, we offer light-touch case management services to any individual or family who has left our LifeMoves programs. We believe that comprehensive support should be an option no matter where a person is in their journey to stability and self-sufficiency. Open to anyone who has received services from LifeMoves, our CONNECT program ensures that they can stay in tou...ch with us and receive assistance as-needed, wherever they are. After enrolling, clients receive inspirational texts and regular surveys to check in on their well-being. Concerning survey responses trigger a Case Manager to reach out and offer assistance, or an individual can simply reach out to say hello and directly ask for help from a Case Manager. You can help ensure our clients’ long-term success by supporting the CONNECT program and donating today.

We wish you a safe, healthy, and Happy New Year! Thanks to your support throughout 2020, LifeMoves is poised to continue our critical work serving unhoused families and individuals through these challenging and unprecedented times. With your partnership, we are confident that 2021 will bring a brighter tomorrow for all.

We love seeing the creative and exciting ways that organizations in our community are making an impact! Youth Spirit Artworks announced the opening of their youth empowerment village, a colorful community of 22 compact homes for individuals ages 18-23 who are unhoused or at-risk of losing housing. The walls of each home are covered in vibrant murals created by young artists. Residents are expected to move in this month and attend full-time job training or, if employed, allot a portion of their income to rent helping empower these young adults to become independent and confident in their decision-making: https://abc7ne.ws/3chz6k0

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 Yussa...Continue reading

No day is the same for a Children's Services Coordinator (CSC) at LifeMoves. Whether diligently checking in with families, communicating with local school districts and resource agencies, or planning an impromptu virtual celebration our CSC's do it all, and they do so with patience, empathy, and incredible dedication. Erica began her LifeMoves career in 2018 as a Residential Services Coordinator. She came to our organization with a passion for working with underserved popul...ations and a particular interest in helping the homeless community. After a year of hard work, Erica was thrilled to be promoted to Children's Services Coordinator at LifeMoves | Haven Family House. "Every day is different when working with children and their families," Erica shares. "We're constantly checking in to make sure that students are attending classes, making sure the family's needs are met in terms of food, clothing, and more, and providing critical mental health resources, especially with everything going on right now." The Haven team hosts children's programs and teen groups every other week via Zoom to ensure that youngsters are staying in regular communication with one another, and to continue building rapport with the CSC's. "That connection, it's so important especially for children who are no longer getting the in-person socialization that they're used to from seeing their classmates or their friends and family." The Haven team has worked tirelessly to make sure that kids receive the educational support needed to acclimate to their online classrooms and keep up with their studies. Overall school performance has improved, and two teens recently celebrated their (virtual) high school graduation at Haven. Pre-COVID, LifeMoves family shelters were buzzing with activity, from in-person workshops to birthday parties and children's games. Erica and the Haven team try to give residents a feeling of "normalcy" - continuing monthly birthday celebrations online and hosting socially distanced outdoor events like their winter wonderland snowscape. Remaining hopeful for the year ahead, Erica is excited for ongoing collaboration with her team to bring even more new and engaging activities to the kids staying at Haven. Her favorite moments include working one-on-one with children and watching them learn, mature, and grow. Erica shares what she wishes people knew about homelessness in general. "Working at LifeMoves, it changed the way I look at people. When you pass someone living on the street, you don't know that person's story. Circumstances in our lives gave us the opportunities we have now, which may be the only difference between them and us. We're all human, and we all deserve support."

Once confused, scared, and alone, I now feel more comfortable, grateful, well-supported, and willing to pay it all forward. Since Heilala and her family lost their home, she, like many unhoused children and young adults, struggled to focus in school and maintain good grades. My only focus was on the fact that we were homeless, she recalls. At LifeMoves | Haven Family House, Heilala received the support she needed to finish the school year strong. She graduated from high school this past spring and enrolled at the College of San Mateo. Read the full story by AlmanacNews: https://bit.ly/3puqp9p

Thank YOU for helping us give the gift of joy-filled holidays to each and every one of the families and individuals we serve. From our LifeMoves family to yours, happy holidays!

We’ve heard of Christmas in July but snow in Menlo Park? Staff at LifeMoves | Haven Family House treated the children staying at their family site to a holiday winter wonderland. Ruben Ayala, Children’s Services Coordinator, covered the entire outdoor common area with kid-friendly, non-toxic faux snow, leaving no tree, bench, or overhang untouched. Throughout the day, children took turns playing with snow and watching in awe at the constant flurry coming down. For many, it was their first time seeing anything close to snowfall. The giggles were infectious parents and LifeMoves staff watched with bright smiles, as kids romped around the yard chasing snowflakes just in time for the holidays!

YOU can make a difference in someone’s life. The simple act of providing blankets, towels, and other essentials to our clients means they won’t stress over the cost of basic household items allowing them to focus precious resources and energy on their journey to stability. Donate critically-needed items today: https://bit.ly/2HALmPd

While some of our unhoused neighbors have safe shelter at a LifeMoves site, many of those we serve do not have a roof over their head this season and are vulnerable to the elements. In addition to providing meals to residents at LifeMoves | Georgia Travis House and LifeMoves | Maple Street, volunteers from Peninsula Sai Center donated 95 winter kits comprised of fleece blankets, gloves, hats, socks, rain ponchos, disposable hand warmers, and mylar emergency blankets to unsheltered clients that we serve through our Homeless Outreach Teams. These winter essentials are crucial in helping keep the most vulnerable warm and healthy throughout the cold winter season. Thank you!

We are thrilled to announce the opening of our new Safe and Supportive Parking site in Redwood City! Now the third LifeMoves | Safe and Supportive Parking location, this site provides much-needed capacity for a growing number of families and individuals living in their vehicles who will now have a safe space to stay while receiving specialized case management, food, and services. The site has space for 80 vehicles, although due to COVID-19 we are currently limiting capacity ...to 40. After months of preparation and collaboration with city and local partners, LifeMoves staff welcomed clients to the site, greeting each new person to help familiarize them with the space, and gifting welcome bags filled with face masks, snacks, and other essentials. This team will continue working around-the-clock to move even more clients into the new space and supporting their work towards regaining stability.

We wish we could have commemorated this year's event with a group photo like this finish-line snapshot from 2017! Congratulations to our challenge winners in the 2020 Ride to End Homelessness: Andy Hancock, Sam Parker, Greg Saiz, and Sean Newland! Participants made major moves both indoors and outside, logging approximately 4,500 cumulative miles altogether. Thank you to all who joined and supported this year’s event, helping raise awareness and critical funds for LifeMoves.

Adults over 55 are becoming homeless at a higher rate than ever before, and over the next decade, the number of elderly homeless Americans is expected to triple a projection calculated even before COVID-19. As shelters and service sites nationwide increasingly care for older adults, our systems will need to evolve and grow so that permanent solutions are more readily available for all. Read the full article, including emotional personal accounts and alarming data:

When Debora and her husband found out that they were expecting her first child, she was excited for her family and their future together. But at 41 years old, she had a difficult pregnancy. While pregnant, she worked for Lyft, Uber, and Amazon to support herself, but she was sick too often and couldn’t continue working. Without her income and bedridden with pain, Debora and her husband struggled to afford their home in San Bruno. Just 15 days after giving birth to a beautifu...Continue reading

#Throwback to October 15, 2019 ! One year ago today, Samsung volunteers spent the day making fleece blankets for our clients at LifeMoves | Haven Family House. We miss having our volunteers onsite, but we still have plenty of virtual opportunities for you to volunteer from home! Check out the full list and sign up today: https://bit.ly/2SYD32c

Our corporate partner, Verkada, recently hosted a holiday fundraiser that raised $5,000 for LifeMoves! The combined donations from fundraisers like these help unite a group to create a powerful impact for the thousands of people staying at a LifeMoves site. Thank you for your continued partnership and for helping make the holidays bright for all those we serve. Want to start your own fundraiser for LifeMoves? Find out how: https://bit.ly/3av2Ske

You’re invited! Join us Thursday, October 22nd for an update with LifeMoves experts on the state of homelessness in our community and how our clients and teams are working tirelessly to expand capacity, extend our services, and, most importantly, break the cycle. We’ll save plenty of time at the end for a live Q&A portion with our panelists. Register today: https://bit.ly/2STqe9t

Keep up the great work riders! Our participants logged some impressive times and miles in the first week of the Ride to End Homelessness. If you have plans to bike, run, or walk this week, register for this event before 10/18 to support LifeMoves while getting your exercise! https://bit.ly/3jUwx8i #RTEH2020 : 2018 Ride to End Homelessness

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 ...Continue reading

Shoes are a precious gift for active and fast-growing kids. With over 300 children across all LifeMoves sites, donations of new shoes go a long way for their families, providing this essential item that they would otherwise have to purchase themselves. In their 11th annual shoe drive, local troops from Girl Scouts of Northern California raised enough money to purchase a brand-new pair of shoes for every child staying at a LifeMoves site. We can’t say enough how grateful we are for their hard work and continued partnership!

This #WorldMentalHealthDay we reflect on the many challenges we have faced as a community and for the need, now more than ever, to unite and support one another. Over the last year, our lives have been upended, and the future remains uncertain. We are coping with incredible loss loss of routine, loss of career, and loss of loved ones. Today is a reminder that you are not alone. We encourage you to visit World Health Organization (WHO) and NAMI for information and resources for mental health support.

Each year, our partners at Franklin Templeton sponsor a lively holiday party at LifeMoves | Vendome, where they join residents on-site to dine, deck the halls, and open gifts. While they could not be there in-person this holiday season, their team went above and beyond to create a joyous celebration for all. In addition to coordinating a special meal delivery, team members sent homemade sweets and a festive decorating kit including a custom Christmas tree poster with photo... ornaments capturing moments from previous year’s holiday events. Part of this annual tradition, officers from San Mateo Police Department joined residents for the outdoor and distanced dinner. With their support, Vendome residents have long-enjoyed a sense of community while celebrating the holidays together and while this year’s celebration looked a bit different, all who attended shared stories, laughs, and positivity for the new year.

Case Manager Ruth Guzman Jones shares her approach when meeting new clients for the first time. A member of the LifeMoves Safe Parking program team, Ruth provides intensive case management services to families and individuals living in their vehicles, helping clients secure employment, apply for housing, and return to stability.

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 depr...Continue reading

When you grow up in a lower income ZIP code and you have less access to healthcare, education [and] nutritional food, those disparities tend to have lifelong impacts and implications. Dr. Brian Greenberg, V.P. of Programs and Services at LifeMoves, and local experts and community leaders discuss the direct link between systemic racial inequity and homelessness in our communities. Read the full article by San Jose Inside, including multiple first-hand accounts of what homelessness in our communities looks like today. https://bit.ly/2SDv9en

We need your help! We are short around 300 meals to serve every person staying at a LifeMoves site for the holidays. This time of year is especially difficult for unhoused families and individuals, so special occasions like these go a long way in spreading cheer and creating a personal, memorable holiday experience for all. We’re so grateful for the generosity of Rosie McCann's Irish Pub & Restaurant who is sponsoring gourmet and festive meals for residents at multiple LifeMoves sites you can do the same by visiting https://bit.ly/3nagOUh to Sponsor a Holiday Meal.

Honored to be among the local nonprofit organizations that FB Mobile Farmers Market has partnered with to donate more than 1,000 food boxes to those most impacted by COVID-19. These donations bring fresh, healthy (and delicious!) food to 115 families staying in our shelters. Hear from the team about their SAFE drive-thru service, providing subsidized, locally-sourced organic produce and grocery essentials to underserved communities in the area:

Meet Millie, Education Initiatives Manager at LifeMoves, and one of many friendly faces behind the comprehensive education programs provided across our sites. Millie joined the LifeMoves team as a Children’s Services Coordinator in 2017, helping facilitate educational programs, assisting with childcare, and connecting families to any additional services that they may need. Now in her third year at LifeMoves, she frequently calls on this experience in her current role planni...ng curriculum, developing workshops, and creating educational services to implement across our sites. I like to say that every [LifeMoves] site has its own flavor each one is a diverse community. Millie shares, We create educational programs based on what is the best fit regarding needs, location, population. It’s always our priority to first consider what is doable for children, parents, and our staff then make it easy, accessible, and engaging. Most recently, Millie and Anita, Educational Initiatives Assistant, introduced a Learn & Earn program, offering one-on-one tutoring sessions with high school volunteers, open to any child staying at a LifeMoves site including those in the CONNECT program who have successfully left a LifeMoves shelter for a stable home of their own. Inspired by the previous summer reading program, Learn & Earn was created to address evolving student needs, particularly for online classes and remote learning. Our students face a variety of challenges. Some are reluctant to engage in the classroom because they missed school while their family moved off the street and into a shelter. Online classes present an additional challenge as unhoused children often don’t have access to computers or WiFi. With individual tutoring, students expand their knowledge by receiving supplemental support that they otherwise might not be able to afford and gain the experience of working with others, developing their social skills, and building confidence in the classroom. Prizes further incentivize participation. For every two sessions students fully complete, they get the chance to win a gift card of their choice or pick from a prize box. Each session also includes a fun activity, game, or icebreaker at the beginning and end to help make the experience fun and engaging for all. The original intent of the program was to help improve grades and make sure all our kids get the same level of assistance that any of their classmates have access to. We didn’t expect the exponential improvement in mood, behavior, and participation. When I see that kind of immediate impact on these kids, it brings everything full-circle for me. Tutors hosted more than 70 sessions since the start of this school year. With participation at an all-time high and a few students even expressing interest in daily tutoring, Millie and the team are confident that Learn & Earn will continue helping children excel in the classroom.

US Army Veteran and former LifeMoves client, Adel, shares his experience at LifeMoves | Haven Family House. Adel, his wife, and their 5-year-old son Yussaf came to LifeMoves in April after closing Adel’s self-owned business and losing their home of 11 years due to COVID. Since then, Adel and his wife have worked hard to regain stability, collaborating with their case manager, applying for work, supporting their son with online classes, and saving enough money to once again afford their own home. The family now lives in Mountain View, and Adel remains hopeful for their new chapter. Like many of our clients, he has overcome incredible challenges on the path to success and self-sufficiency. You can help others like Adel by donating today: https://bit.ly/3qzpR3r

There’s still time to give a special holiday gift to one of the hundreds of children staying with LifeMoves! This year, we’re asking for your help to buy physical gift cards for our clients so that they can purchase personal and much-needed gifts for themselves and their children. Your gift today will create a memorable and joy-filled holiday for children experiencing homelessness. Please give generously today: https://bit.ly/2JLwHCh

On your mark, get set, go! The 2020 Ride to End Homelessness has officially begun with extended dates! Over the next two weeks (extended for air quality safety), participants will hit the ground running, walking, and cycling to raise awareness and critical funds for LifeMoves. Participants - share your progress by posting a selfie, update, or photo on social media with the hashtag #RTEH2020, and we’ll highlight you on our pages! (Psst, there’s still time to join! Register here: https://bit.ly/3iCIPAS)

The new Community Plan to End Homelessness requires monumental shifts in policies and priorities to make effective changes in our community. It will address the systemic root causes of homelessness, rapidly expand emergency shelter capacity, increase housing development, and improve overall quality of life for our unhoused neighbors. Learn how it works: https://bit.ly/2HF9Jex

Socks, blankets, and other essentials go a long way in keeping people warm during the colder winter months. The staff and clients at LifeMoves | Redwood Family House were in high spirits after receiving generous donations of new pillows, bedding, toiletries, and more from Redeemer Redwood City, as well as 80 blankets courtesy of Carlsen Subaru. We are so appreciative of the much-needed items, which greatly benefit the families and children staying at our shelter.

This is kind of a wave of the future, Bruce Ives, LifeMoves CEO says of the rapidly-deployed modular units being used to build 100 private rooms of interim housing in Mountain View: I think this is going to be a growing asset for us in the fight against homelessness. Many people are facing looming evictions and months of lost income due to COVID-19, and we have been working nonstop to find new ways to support those in need. Cost-effective and COVID-safe, modular units offer an innovative and scalable solution for temporary housing in our community. Read The Mercury News' full article on local plans for much-needed interim housing and shelter options.

Thank YOU for joining us on #GivingTuesday. Our team is inspired every day by the strength and resiliency of our clients, and our work supporting them is made possible by your generosity. We are deeply grateful for the commitment of our corporate partner Coupa Software, who matched your donations dollar-for-dollar, ensuring that we can continue serving our unhoused neighbors who have lost everything, while building safe, healthy, and happy communities for all. #ThankYouWednesday

#GivingTuesday is almost over but there’s still time to get your 2x donation match! We are so inspired by all of you who have celebrated this day with us. There are only a few hours left to help us secure the urgently needed matching funds that will go directly towards helping our unhoused neighbors find stability, housing, and hope for a brighter tomorrow. Every dollar makes a difference, and every dollar will be DOUBLED. Donate now: https://www.facebook.com/donate/402609464214094/

We still need your help to reach our fundraising goal to support the thousands of unhoused neighbors in our community. PLEASE donate, share, and spread the word! ALL donations today will be matched doubling your donation of any size and every dollar goes directly to homeless families and individuals who are working hard alongside LifeMoves staff to find hope, stable employment, and permanent housing. Your gift helps us provide welcoming shelter for 1,200 people each ni...ght, healthy and warm meals 3x a day, clothing and household necessities for all those we serve, and, most importantly, a clear path home for those who have lost everything. Thank you to everyone who has shown up in a major way for our community and donated to LifeMoves this #GivingTuesday we’re nearly halfway to our goal! Let’s keep giving back together! https://www.facebook.com/donate/402609464214094/

We are off to an amazing start to #GivingTuesday and we are so grateful! You can still join the #GivingTuesday movement and get your donation to LifeMoves matched dollar-for-dollar by our corporate sponsor, Coupa Software. Help us meet our goal by donating now! https://www.facebook.com/donate/402609464214094

Today’s the day Happy #GivingTuesday! Every dollar you donate today will be DOUBLED in a 1:1 match by our generous corporate sponsor, Coupa Software. We’re celebrating the power of giving back. Join us donate now and double your impact to help a homeless family return to stability: https://www.facebook.com/donate/402609464214094/

Yuri and her family arrived at LifeMoves | Villa in July 2020. She quickly found work, but when school started, her Spanish-speaking children faced challenges keeping up with an English curriculum while adjusting to the fully remote virtual classes. I work, so I can’t be here all day with them, Yuri explained. [But] I feel good because Marika is always here to make sure the kids are always in school and to help with the homework as well. Marika and her fellow Children’s ...Services Coordinators work hard to ensure that every student staying at a LifeMoves site receives the individualized attention and assistance needed to help them succeed in school. But the cost of this increased support has risen significantly. Yuri’s full story is highlighted in The Mercury News Wish Book. You can help support LifeMoves education programs by donating here: https://ssl.charityweb.net/wishbook/event/

We are less than 12 hours away from #GivingTuesday! Reminder that ALL individual donations made to LifeMoves tomorrow will be matched dollar-for-dollar. We are stronger together. Want to make an even greater impact tomorrow? Host a Facebook fundraiser to unite and inspire your coworkers, families, and friends. Raising $2,500 will provide case management for 10 Veteran clients. $5,000 will fund therapeutic counseling services for 20 LifeMoves clients a critical support fu...nction as our clients work through the uncertainty and stress of experiencing homelessness during a pandemic. Start your fundraiser or donate directly by clicking here: https://bit.ly/37qLeLD

Planning to shop online on #BlackFriday or #CyberMonday? Don’t forget to use Amazon Smile to seamlessly give back to our community with every purchase you make! Signing up is simple: 1) visit smile.amazon.com (instead of the main Amazon webpage); and 2) select LifeMoves as your charity of choice. That’s it! Now, every time you make a purchase via Amazon Smile, Amazon will donate a portion of the price to LifeMoves, directly benefiting the thousands of individuals we serve. Use Amazon Smile today: https://smile.amazon.com

Today in particular, we give thanks for all our incredible donors, volunteers, and community members. Because of your help and support through an extraordinarily challenging year, we’ve made substantial strides in our fight against homelessness: - LifeMoves provided more than 237,300 nights of shelter - 86% of all families who engaged in LifeMoves programs found stable housing - 67% of all clients who engaged in LifeMoves programs found stable housing... - We rapidly developed COVID emergency relief programs to protect our clients and pivot our services to meet the evolving need - More than 1,150 people found safety and comfort through our COVID-19 emergency shelters By donating your time, resources, and critical funds to LifeMoves COVID relief efforts, our staff has been able to help stably house clients at the same rate as they did pre-pandemic, despite ongoing job losses and economic uncertainty. Above all we are thankful for the dedication and resiliency of our clients, who continue to inspire us and fuel our work building a brighter future for all. From our LifeMoves family to yours, we wish you a safe and happy #Thanksgiving.

We are thrilled to announce that our corporate partner, Coupa Software, is joining us again on #GivingTuesday to match all donations made to LifeMoves on December 1! This matching gift means that your contribution to the health and success of our clients will be DOUBLED. Your $500 will turn into $1,000 - providing homework assistance materials and support for the children staying at our shelters. Your $1,250 donation will double to $2,500 - providing comprehensive case management for 10 of our Veteran clients. We are so thankful for Coupa’s generous support of LifeMoves. Make your #GivingTuesday plans today to help us maximize your impact! https://bit.ly/3nVdA73

As we approach the end of #HomelessnessAwarenessMonth, we reflect on the incredible challenges and opportunities ahead of us as we continue to assist unhoused families and individuals to ensure that no one is forced to live without a roof over their head. Today, millions of people across the country continue to experience the repercussions of COVID from job losses to increased expenses and medical bills and are living on the brink of homelessness. We are facing an unprec...edented wave of people losing their homes, and it is more important than ever before to support the most vulnerable in our communities. We encourage you to learn more about the evolving homelessness crisis, help raise awareness for local programs and critically-needed resources, and support organizations that serve our homeless neighbors. You can contribute directly to somebody’s journey home by donating today: https://bit.ly/39fZol4

Micalia never thought that she’d become homeless but after separating from her partner, she was unable to support her family on a single income. She came to LifeMoves | Villa with a sole purpose: return to stability so she and her children could move into a home of their own. With the support of her case manager, Micalia worked hard, committing to regular counseling, returning to full-time work, and ensuring her children stayed engaged in school. When COVID-19 hit, Micalia ...was placed on furlough, but she applied diligently for jobs, eventually returning to work and saving enough money to move into her new home. *Generous grants from Anthem Foundation and other community partners support the on-site behavioral health services that have helped clients like Micalia rebuild a strong mental health foundation, aiding their work to regain stability. Thanks to their support, our teams can offer free services designed to fit the unique needs of each client. #AnthemCares During #HomelessnessAwarenessMonth, we celebrate the success of clients like Micalia, and all those who continue to work diligently every day to find suitable employment and housing and return to self-sufficiency.

With the holiday season and colder weather upon us, we need your help to ensure a joy-filled and wonderful holiday season for the thousands of people we serve. This year, we’re offering multiple ways to give back and give big. From increasing your impact with a fundraiser, to sponsoring a decorating kit for the upcoming holidays, you can give the feeling of being home for the holidays directly to the families and individuals staying at our shelters: https://bit.ly/3kJz9FV Want to make a specific gift? We need household essentials for clients across our sites. Help us meet the need for 99 blankets, 187 comforter sets, and 94 bath towels by donating to our linen drive: https://bit.ly/3nBVbfq

Save the date: Tuesday, December 1 is #GivingTuesday! Now more than ever, we must unite with kindness and generosity to change our community for the better. Whether spreading the word, getting involved in virtual volunteering, or donating, everyone has something to give, and every act of generosity counts. What’s your Giving Tuesday plan? Share with us in the comments below!

At LifeMoves, we have been privileged to see many of our staff grow within the organization, as they offer compassionate support to all those we serve and enact positive change in our communities. Hannah began her career at LifeMoves in a front desk position at our Montgomery Street Inn shelter. She worked daytime and graveyard shifts, commuting up to 3 hours a day from her hometown of Vacaville. Her hard work and intense dedication to supporting the clients at MSI was admir...ed and she was quickly promoted to Case Manager, working with individuals who had been recently released from incarceration. She also spent time working with families at LifeMoves | Villa and Georgia Travis House, and eventually transitioned to leading our Healthcare for the Homeless Team, where she helped support and oversee street medicine services while providing case management to her clients. Working in outreach is really awesome. I loved how every single day is totally different you go all over the place and you get to work with all different kinds of people. Hannah is now the Program Director of our latest Safe and Supportive Parking location in Redwood City. She and her team have put countless hours of hard work into building this site from the ground-up managing the installation of restrooms, security systems, fencing, and lighting; organizing designated parking spaces; assisting clients with vehicle registration and repairs; and much more. The team currently spends half of their time traveling around Redwood City to find people who are living in their RVs and interested in engaging with or in need of LifeMoves programs and services. Once a person is admitted to the Safe Parking site, LifeMoves staff makes sure to get to know every person individually to truly understand what barriers they are facing in finding stable housing and build a customized case plan that will best support them. Staff remain available on-site, providing the individualized case management to clients, checking that they have everything they need, sanitizing equipment, and keeping day-to-day operations running smoothly. Hannah shares some of the most rewarding aspects of her job: Anytime we get somebody off the street and into safety is really great. We started working with a couple who was living on the street and expecting a child. The new site opened in time so that they were able to come in and receive support through their delivery. They’re looking forward to raising their baby in an area that’s safe and protected.

We’d like to congratulate Steve Moon, LifeMoves Case Manager on our Healthcare for the Homeless team, for being recognized as the November 2020 San Mateo County Health Coverage Coalition Partner of the Month! Steve works closely with the San Mateo County Healthcare Coalition (SMCHC) team to ensure that the most vulnerable in our community are assisted and enrolled in Medi-Cal and other health coverage. He supports his clients by helping fill out paperwork, turning in the required verifications, and answering any other needs. Thanks to the relentless dedication of SMCHC and frontline workers like Steve, our community members and clients receive the care they need and are ensured critical healthcare coverage during difficult times. Keep up the great work!

Veterans face the same challenges as their fellow community members staying healthy, securing employment, finding affordable housing but they navigate these challenges under additional strain, including but not limited to, lasting physical impacts from injuries sustained in combat and post-traumatic stress disorder. As part of #HomelessnessAwarenessMonth, we recognize the 11% of homeless adults in the U.S. that are Veterans. At LifeMoves, 1 in every 10 adults we serve is a Veteran and we partner with the VA to coordinate and provide specialized programs and services to address the specific needs of the Veteran community. This #VeteransDay, we honor those who have served or continue to serve our country.

You can make the holidays bright for a family or individual staying at a LifeMoves site. We’re organizing a safe and joyous holiday experience for all of our clients by making our holiday giving a bit different this year. Instead of a gift drive, we’re asking for gift cards to each of the 1,200+ people staying at a LifeMoves site this holiday season, ensuring they have the means to purchase special, memorable gifts for their children, their loved ones, and themselves. Share... the season of joy and sponsor a holiday gift card today: https://bit.ly/3kf5ynv If you'd prefer to purchase and mail a physical gift card, please buy a $20 gift card from Target, Walmart, or Amazon only. Then ship your gift card to LifeMoves c/o Donna Hope, 181 Constitution Dr, Menlo Park, CA 94025.

When an individual or family loses their home, daily life can feel like a series of insurmountable challenges. Yenny and her husband have always worked hard to support their family. But when they moved to California, they found it difficult to pay for a place to stay. They rented a hotel room at first, but they eventually ran out of money and the family had to start sleeping in and living out of their car. Eventually, they were referred to LifeMoves, where the whole family ...quickly got to work. Yenny worked diligently with her case manager, she and her husband applied for work and started new jobs, and their children resumed schooling. Then COVID-19 hit. Yenny recalled the devastating impact on her family: My kids couldn’t go to school anymore, and my hours at my job got reduced. I no longer had anyone to take care of my kids. My husband also lost his job. But they never gave up Yenny’s husband immediately began searching for a new job. He quickly found stable employment, allowing the family to save enough money to move into their own home. They now live in Hayward, where Yenny is happy to be home taking care of the kids and supporting their studies. The family is taking this new experience one day at a time, building little by little, with hope, courage, and a lot of hard work for their new chapter.

If you haven’t already please vote!

November is National #HomelessnessAwarenessMonth. Throughout the month, we will be bringing attention to the hundreds of thousands of people living without a home across the country. While LifeMoves teams continue working day and night to serve our unhoused neighbors, our clients represent a small fraction of the country’s homeless population. In 2019 alone, there were more than 560,000 people experiencing homelessness in the United States. This number continues to grow, and... the face of homelessness is constantly changing. Each story and every person’s journey is unique. Amidst immense job losses, an economic crisis, and impending expiration of eviction moratoriums, tens of thousands of people are at risk of losing their homes in the Bay Area alone. We know how to solve homelessness our programs work and have helped thousands of people return to stable housing every year, but we recognize that large scale change can only be realized if our communities come together to be a part of the solution. Learn more about the state of homelessness in 2020: https://bit.ly/3oXWF5t

Staff at LifeMoves | First Step For Families truly worked their magic to transform their parking lot into a full-blown pumpkin patch by transporting hay bales, setting up spook-tacular decorations, and preparing themed treats. Children staying at the site were given their choice of brand-new costumes, which they proudly showed off at the event. Families roamed from station to station, painting their own pumpkins, taking pictures with ghoulish props, and collecting trick-or-treat bags. Shout out to our teams for going above and beyond to give the families and individuals staying at our shelters a memorable Halloween, and we wish everyone a safe and spooky holiday!

The holidays can be difficult for families and individuals experiencing homelessness, but our teams work hard to provide a warm and festive experience for all. You can support these efforts and share the season of joy with LifeMoves by participating in one (or more!) of this year’s holiday giving opportunities. Find out how: https://bit.ly/2HuepEF

Residents at LifeMoves | New Haven Inn received a variety of all-new items thanks to a generous donation drive hosted by Billy DeFrank LGBTQ Community Center. Clients had their pick of brand-new shoes, shirts, face masks, and more! Thank you to our community of dedicated supporters who continue to quickly adapt to our updated guidelines to provide our most-needed items swiftly and safely during COVID-19.

This before-and-after example shows just how far basic household essentials and décor can go in transforming an empty room into a home. Generous donations allow our staff and clients to brighten up living spaces, like this bedroom at LifeMoves | Haven Family House. Donate today, and your gift will directly help a family in need as they work toward finding a home of their own: https://bit.ly/3cRr13J

A little positivity from our neighbors up North to brighten your feed Bay Area chef Joanna Karlinsky has been preparing hundreds of hot meals out of her own home to feed those unsheltered in San Francisco. When COVID-19 hit, she saw an immediate need to serve her neighbors on the street. Joanna has expanded her work to local restaurant spaces, and she hopes to begin serving 1,000 portions per cook day. Hear about her inspiration for this endeavor:

Calling all cyclists, runners, and walkers the 2020 Ride to End Homelessness is less than a week away! Hosted by Menlo Bike Club, the ride puts the pedal to the metal for a good cause. All proceeds will benefit LifeMoves shelters and services as our staff continue their essential work helping return clients to stability. Gear up for the October 5 start by making sure you’re registered for the event: https://bit.ly/3ja4odb

Melisia Shanklin, Case Manager for the LifeMoves Homeless Outreach Team, has been at LifeMoves just over 2 years. She shares what it means to her to help a client move into their own housing and to see them not just succeed, but thrive.

This year’s Ride to End Homelessness will be hosted by our partners at Menlo Bike Club! Sign up today for our virtual bike ride, walk, or run, which will help raise critically-needed funds helping our clients with food, services, and clothing, supporting the children staying at our shelters with their virtual learning, and providing much-needed resources amidst COVID-19. Be sure to mark your calendars: complete your ride, walk, or run anytime between October 5-18! https://bit.ly/33TQaH3 : 2018 Ride to End Homelessness

We are thrilled to announce that LifeMoves and the City of Mountain View have been awarded a State grant through the Project Homekey program to build 100 temporary housing units for unhoused seniors and families, expected to be completed and serving people as soon as December. This site nearly triples Mountain View’s current capacity dramatically increasing interim housing capacity in our community and we expect to serve about 300 people per year at the location. Joe Sto...ckwell, LifeMoves Board Chair shares the powerful impact this new site will have: "...with LifeMoves wraparound case management services, we will be able to rapidly transition clients back to stable housing. This public-private partnership creates a scalable solution to fight homelessness and the effects of the pandemic on this especially vulnerable community something we need now more than ever." See more

Our clients can continue to stay safe and protect their fellow residents and staff in style, thanks to our partners at New Community Church. Volunteers honed their craft and donated handmade face masks in bright colors and prints. We love the thoughtful touch!

Please share! We’re short on much-needed items for our linen drive and still need: 88 blankets, 85 sheets sets, and 84 towels for families staying at LifeMoves | First Step For Families. By contributing to our linen drive, you are giving the gift of comfort and a good night’s sleep, allowing our residents to focus their time, energy, and resources toward returning to self-sufficiency. Our linen drive ends soon! Donate today: https://bit.ly/2FRdm0p

Today is your last chance to double your impact! We are celebrating by taking a moment of gratitude to thank and recognize all of our incredible corporate partners who continue to give back to our community in significant ways through fundraising, spreading awareness, virtual volunteering, and more. Our work at LifeMoves is made possible by the generosity and compassion of our dedicated supporters. Donate today, and your contribution will go even further in funding our essential programs and services thanks to dollar-for-dollar matching by Nibbi Brothers General Contractors and Gilead Sciences. https://bit.ly/2EcBmKD

Since 2010, Gilead Sciences has partnered with LifeMoves to support the ever-evolving needs at our shelter sites - from LifeMoves | Julian Street Inn in San Jose, to First Step For Families in San Mateo, and everything in between! They are continuing our decade-long partnership by matching every donation to LifeMoves, dollar-for-dollar, through Sept 20th. Your donation of any size will be DOUBLED! Gilead’s commitment to improving our community empowers our mission to solve ...local homelessness and successfully return thousands of people to stable housing every year. Double the impact of your donation by making your gift today! https://bit.ly/3kuwxf9

Our partnership with Nibbi Brothers General Contractors and Gilead Sciences has enabled critical education programs across our shelters. Did you know that $1,000 provides homework assistance materials and support for all children staying at our shelters? Hear from Millie Fynn, Education Initiatives Manager at LifeMoves, how important educational resources are in helping unhoused youth achieve success and enjoy programs like our Summer Adventure Camp. Consider donating today to double your impact with a dollar for dollar donation match from these generous corporate partners: https://bit.ly/2FrIiEx

We continue to support LifeMoves because we are genuinely interested in the community in which we live and work, and we want everyone to have the chance to thrive. We understand that when people have a safe place to call home, that their opportunities are amplified. Michael Nibbi and the team at Nibbi Brothers General Contractors have provided critical support to LifeMoves for over two decades. They not only contributed to but led construction of LifeMoves | First Step For Families, staying onsite to work with crews throughout planning and build. Donate today, and Nibbi Brothers General Contractors will double your donation to LifeMoves: https://bit.ly/3c9ydrK

Welcome to the LifeMoves Double Your Impact week of giving! Donate to LifeMoves before Sep 20 and your contribution will be matched dollar-for-dollar, thanks to the generosity of our corporate partners at Gilead Sciences and Nibbi Brothers General Contractors. What happens when you double your impact? $250 expands on the success of our Summer Camp program to bring even more fun, engaging, and educational programming to next year’s campers. $500 provides financial literacy training and preparedness workshops for three homeless adults. Your gift makes a life-changing difference. Donate today: https://bit.ly/2FFIzn3

A HUGE thank you to all those who staffed, attended, and supported the 2020 LifeMoves virtual Benefit Breakfast! Thanks to you, we exceeded our goal of $250K! #MoveItForward