What Is LifeMoves and How Does It Fight Homelessness?

What Is LifeMoves?

LifeMoves helps homeless individuals and their families, providing supportive services and short-term accommodation. The nonprofit helps clients secure stable housing and ultimately achieve long-term self-sufficiency.

On any night of the year, the organization provides housing, food, and clothing to more than 850 Silicon Valley and Peninsula residents experiencing homelessness. Money donated to LifeMoves is used to provide services, housing, and support to individuals throughout Santa Clara and San Mateo counties.

LifeMoves relies on more than 10,000 annual volunteers, as well as generous gifts of talent and time from its community, helping homeless people secure a permanent home for themselves and their families.

LifeMoves’ Impact

LifeMoves serves 9,350 clients annually, and one out of every five of its clients are U.S. veterans. One-third of the organization’s shelter beds are dedicated to children.

LifeMoves operates 17 facilities throughout San Jose and Daly City. Last year, 68% of people who engaged in LifeMoves programs and 86% of families who stayed in LifeMoves shelters went on to find stable housing and become self-sufficient.

The organization provides homeless people with nutritious food; safe, clean living spaces; mental health support and counseling services; afterschool activities and therapeutic childcare; and housing and job search assistance.

Food Services

Breaking Bread, a food service offered in partnership with LifeMoves, serves hot, nutritious breakfasts Monday through Friday at Palo Alto’s Opportunity Services Center. After eating, visitors can use a full range of services provided by LifeMoves, including assistance with basic services and support; case management services; emergency utility and rent services; health services; assistance with drivers’ licenses and ID; as well as receiving free toiletries, clothing, shoes, winter gear, and sleeping bags.

Homelessness in Silicon Valley

Silicon Valley is seen as the land of opportunity, not to mention the tech capital of the world. The truth is, homelessness throughout the region has increased dramatically in recent years. A federally mandated survey indicated homelessness in Santa Clara County has increased significantly in the last two years, with most individuals without a home living in San Jose. The county had 7,394 homeless in 2017. Today, that figure stands at 9,706.

Japantown resident Robert Papiri explained that homelessness is rapidly becoming a big problem where he lives. In the course of the last 18 months, he has seen a significant increase in the homeless population in his area alone. Mr Papiri commented that trains running through Japantown at night have started sounding their horns several times, in an effort to alert homeless individuals who have pitched their tents at the side of the railway track.

San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo explained to reporters at a recent news conference that local authorities were struggling to reduce homelessness. For every individual they house, a further three are pushed onto the street.

CHAM Deliverance Ministries’ Homeless Advocate Scott Waters asserted that city and county leaders could do more, and that existing policies had failed the region’s homeless. He suggested that government approaches simply were not effective, as evidenced by the numbers, concluding that the area is fighting a losing battle when it comes to housing.

Breaking the Cycle

With more than 40 years’ experience serving homeless individuals and their families, LifeMoves is the largest, most proficient non-profit organization committed to breaking the cycle of homelessness in the region. Its highly successful, multi-faceted therapeutic service model provides intensive, supportive services with clean, modern housing, promoting respect and dignity, and inspiring clients to achieve autonomy.

LifeMoves not only combats homelessness, it helps clients identify the root cause of their problems, to stop it happening again. The program requires client accountability, helping them to refocus and develop the skills they need to succeed in the long term.

With $23.4 million in annual revenue and 225 employees, LifeMoves focuses on homeless youth, supporting their physical and mental health and helping them address the traumatic effects of being made homeless. The nonprofit specializes in supporting homeless young people, helping them maximize their opportunities and become self-sufficient.