A Sense of Home

Volunteer: Jennifer Barrera

A Sense of Home (ASOH) strives to prevent homelessness by creating first-ever homes and a community for youth aging out of foster care.

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Jennifer Barrera first connected with A Sense of Home as a former foster youth and single mother to her three children. Jennifer overcame homelessness and lived in several shelters before securing an apartment last May for her and her children. She began volunteering with A Sense of Home after being a Home Creation recipient and "seeing all of the volunteers carrying heavy furniture who were willing to do that for [her], [she] wanted to be able to give somebody back that same feeling that [she] had."  Witnessing "a community of strangers show up for [her], brought back [her faith in] humanity," and Jennifer committed to volunteering at least once a month with A Sense of Home, outside of working two jobs, because she wanted to give the same support to other former foster youth that she had received.  She is always willing to lend a hand wherever she is needed. She is also an inspiration to the former foster youth ASOH serves and has taken the lead as an ambassador for the “Pay it Forward Alumni” (PIFA) community by welcoming Home Creation recipients into the alumni program, spreading awareness about ASOH's work, including in a recent interview with Fox News during Foster Care Awareness Month. She also actively participates in volunteer appreciation evnts, and special events.