Staff Spotlight: Jennifer Guy

For the past two years, Jennifer Guy, Front Desk Monitor, has been a steady, reassuring presence at Stockholm Family Residence, one of our temporary housing sites for families in Brooklyn.

Often the first face residents see, Jennifer signs clients in and out, answers phones, conducts wellness checks, and helps maintain a safe, welcoming environment. “I’m always there to help,” she says. Long, sometimes hectic days do not deter her. She finds purpose in showing up consistently for families working to help them build independence. 

In January, her commitment was tested in an extraordinary way. A pregnant resident went into active labor on-site, and events escalated quickly. As they waited for EMS, Jennifer carefully helped the client down the stairs, believing they had time. Then she realized the baby was crowning. In a narrow stairwell, without equipment or medical training, the situation shifted in an instant. “One minute I was waiting on EMS and the next minute I became a doctor and a coach, all that in one,” she recalls.  

There was no time to hesitate. Jennifer helped the mother lie down safely and, guided only by instinct and resolve, coached her through each breath and push. Then, just moments later, a newborn’s cry filled the stairwell. “It was a meaningful and scary feeling, but it was also rewarding,” Jennifer says about delivering the baby. “I just thanked God, and I said, we did this.” 

In awe and deep gratitude of her heroism, the mother asked Jennifer to name her baby. She chose the name Purpose. The name reflects more than a single moment. It captures why Jennifer shows up every day. She had said she wanted “to help change someone’s life.” In that stairwell, she did—quite literally.

Today, Purpose, her mother, and her three siblings are all doing well and continue to live at the residence. The experience transformed Jennifer. “I feel like my strength has grown. I feel like if I could do that, I could do anything,” she reflects. “Now…I just feel like I’m superwoman.” 

For Jennifer, VOA-GNY is more than a workplace. “Here…it’s actually my peace,” she says. In a building meant to provide shelter and stability, Jennifer delivered something even greater: courage under pressure, compassion in action, and a powerful reminder that purpose is often revealed in the moments we are called to rise up. Thank you, Jennifer for your incredible commitment to the people we serve.