The True Measure of Success: Jennifer’s Journey from Couch Surfing to Hope Dealer

When we talk about the fight against homelessness, it is incredibly easy to get caught up in data points. We count the number of beds filled, the number of meals served, or the total square footage of a facility.

But at Serve City, we have learned that those metrics don’t tell the full story.

Success cannot be measured by the volume of people we provide shelter for on any given night. If a bed is just a bed... it’s a temporary pause not a solution. True success is measured by something much deeper: the number of individuals who enter our doors in crisis and leave having restored their personal dignity, renewed their hope, and completely rebuilt a supportive community around themselves.

If you want to know what that kind of success looks like in human terms, you only have to look at the journey of our Shelter and Program Coordinator, Jennifer Kendel.

Navigating the Wilderness of Loss and Instability

Jennifer’s path to Serve City wasn't linear, and it wasn’t easy. It began with an overwhelming wave of grief. In September of 2001, just a week before the world changed on 9/11, Jennifer lost her mother. Less than two years later, in July of 2003, her father passed away.

Uprooted and grieving, she moved in with her brother, who struggled with alcoholism, and Jennifer found herself turning to alcohol to cope with the trauma. At eighteen, she struck out on her own, moving in with a friend's family to finish high school, graduating in June of 2006.

Without a stable foundation, the next few years became a journey of survival. Jennifer fell into a pattern of couch surfing and constant partying, trying to numb the intense, heavy depression. At her lowest point, battling her fractured self-esteem, she felt like she wanted to end it all.

A Family Separated by Crisis

When Jennifer's twin girls were born, she and her husband moved in with his father to help care for the household. But stability remained elusive. A sudden shift in housing circumstances left the young family of four literally homeless.

They stayed briefly with Jennifer's sister, but with her sister's third child on the way, space ran out, and they were forced to leave. With nowhere left to turn, they headed to Hope House in Middletown for a month. When their caseworker found openings for the family further south, they hit a heart-wrenching obstacle that many families in crisis face: because they weren't married yet, they couldn't stay together.

Jennifer and her twin babies were placed at Haven House, while her partner was sent to Serve City. For a month, their family was fractured, holding on by a thread, relying on local shelters just to survive.

Finding Purpose in the Pantry

The turning point came when they secured housing assistance through St. Raphael’s. While living there, Jennifer decided to start volunteering in their food pantry and serving meals.

It was a profound moment of transformation.

The person who had spent years couch surfing, battling depression, and relying on the others for their family's basic needs was suddenly the one holding serving others.

"I loved it," Jennifer recalls. "I was helping in the pantry and serving people. It felt good, like that’s what I was supposed to be doing."

Through volunteering, her dignity flourished. Her husband secured a job, and they eventually transitioned into long-term housing through the Butler Metropolitan Housing Authority (BMHA). Jennifer ended up volunteering at that pantry for eight years, building deep community roots and making lifelong professional connections, including meeting Terry Purdue, who would go on to be the Executive Director at Shared Harvest Foodbank.

Overcoming the Stigma of East Avenue

Years later, well established in her stability, Jennifer felt a familiar calling pulling at her heart. She wanted to serve again.

Growing up in the area, she had always been told to stay away from East Avenue, that "there was nothing good down there."

But when she saw a job posting for a Resident Support Technician at Serve City, she decided to challenge the old stigma and apply.

During her interview, she heard a familiar, comforting voice from her St. Raphael volunteering days. It was Tammy Adams. In that moment, the pieces of Jennifer's life came full circle.

"I was so excited and wanted to stay," Jennifer says. "It’s where I felt I belonged."

Jennifer didn't just join the staff; she became a driving force within the organization:

• She started working on the frontline in the shelter as a Support Specialist.

• She was promoted to Pantry Manager, running the program beautifully.

• After a brief time off, she returned to the shelter, quickly earning a promotion to Housing Coordinator.

• Today, she serves as the Program Coordinator for our shelter, continuously accumulating certifications, attending workshops, and mastering every piece of training available to better serve our guests.

From Survival to Self-Sufficiency

Jennifer’s life could have ended up differently a million times over. But because of her resilience, and because of local organizations providing a bridge when she was at her lowest, she was able to make lasting connections that changed her trajectory.

When Jennifer looks at the folks sleeping in our shelter tonight, she doesn't see numbers or case files. She sees herself: knowing what it's like to be separated from the person you love, to look at your babies and wonder where they will sleep, and to feel the crushing weight of loss.

Our services at Serve City focus on the whole person. We don't just want to hand someone a blanket; we want to help them regain their self-sufficiency, discover their purpose in the community, and realize that they are capable of leadership.

Jennifer Kendel is proof that when a community invests in restoring dignity rather than just managing poverty, the people we once sheltered can become the very heroes who step up to lead the fight.

Renew Hope with Serve City

No single organization can end homelessness alone. It takes an entire ecosystem of compassion, resources, and action to support our neighbors in crisis and carry them toward lasting stability. True transformation happens when an entire community stands together.

We are calling on every corner of Butler County to step into the gap and help us build a network that refuses to let anyone fall. No matter your size, your budget, or your background, you have a vital role to play as a hero of impact.

How You Can Help:

• For Faith Communities & Churches: Become a sanctuary of support. You can sponsor a recurring meal night at our shelter, lead a bible study night, organize targeted donation drives for critical supplies, or form dedicated volunteer teams to help individuals and families transition into permanent housing. Your congregation can be the spiritual and practical anchor our guests need to rebuild their lives.

• For Businesses & Community Organizations: Partner with us on the front lines. Challenge your staff to a volunteer service day, host a donation bin at your location, or collaborate with us on community resource fairs. By aligning your organizational strengths with Serve City, you help drive systemic change in our local neighborhood.

• For Families: Teach the next generation the power of community resilience. Together, you can pack travel-sized hygiene kits, volunteer at our food pantry, sort donations, or choose a weekend to prepare a meal for our shelter guests. It is a powerful way to show your children that changing a life starts right in our own backyard.

• For Individuals: Your unique time and talent are exactly what our network is missing. Whether you can commit to a couple of hours a week organizing our pantry, assisting in the shelter answering the phone, or giving a financial gift to fuel our operations, your personal investment builds self-sufficiency for someone experiencing housing instability.

Become a Hero!

Housing insecurity is a complex battle, but the solution lives in our shared connection. When we weave our resources together, we create a safety net strong enough to restore dignity, renew hope, and rebuild lives.

👉 Click here to connect your organization, sign up for a volunteer shift, or make a life-changing financial contribution today.

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