Adel’s Story

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 this was 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?’”

Five-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 to never 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 a.m. to 11 p.m., 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.”

You can make a difference for families like Adel’s by including a gift to LifeMoves in your estate plan. Contact Michelle Epstein at 415-470-0395 or mepstein@lifemoves.org to learn about your options for making a lasting impact.