Dear Friends of Hansen Foundation, Inc./Serenity House, LLC,
We need your help! The Hansen Foundation is in MAJOR Jeopardy of losing everything that we’ve worked for since our formation in 2001. This would mean, no more Serenity Houses, Serenity Estates, Hope Farm, and the Enlightened Cafe. It all began with our sober living house in Somers Point receiving a complaint from a NIMBY neighbor. This created a 5-year legal battle with the State of New Jersey, and just now, an egregious and ludicrous fine of $594,000 from the DCA, State of New Jersey.
How did we get to this point? It’s really quite simple: the Federal Fair Housing Act allows group homes to exist without discrimination in any residential zone. Addictions are disabilities and people who suffer from drug or alcohol addictions qualify as having a disability—one of the seven groups cited as worthy of non-discrimination. New Jersey does not align nor comply with the Federal Fair Housing Act and has hence determined that we are “Boarding Houses” and must attain zoning approvals among other requirements. That not only makes the mission impossible with NIMBY mentality, but prohibitively costly. The State inspector demanded we become “Oxford Like” meaning we would have to remove our supervision including all house managers and divest ownership interest in the house. What the complainant and inspector didn’t realize is the operational expertise component: what makes Serenity House so successful is the accountability residents have to Recovery Support Specialists, accountability to clean urines, curfews, chores, and the therapeutic value of one resident helping another. The inspector asked me to lie and say that we were running an “Oxford like” residence. Refusing to lie, I have been tirelessly asking for the state to grant reasonable accommodation to the Hansen Foundation in accordance with The Federal Fair Housing Act and American Disabilities Act.
What will happen if a stay of fines is not granted while litigation continues? Let’s look at the numbers:
– 120 present residents in recovery will potentially be put on the street endangering their recovery and their lives.
– 1,000+ family members and friends will have no peace-of-mind knowing their loved one is safe and learning to live a productive life.
– 46 Recovery Advocates will be without a job
– 13 horses, 1 pig, 25 chickens, 2 beehives will cease to be a benefit to our residents
– 5 weekly twelve-step meetings/support groups will have no place to meet
– The Opioid Crisis will have an irreparable setback in our community during this horrific epidemic
I want to be clear, this is not a money-making endeavor. All of the residents pay a reasonable rent and we have 3 fundraisers per year to raise the rest of the funds necessary to operate and award some scholarships. We do not get any outside or government funding. I do not personally draw a salary from the Hansen Foundation. This is truly a labor of love. I have used my own money to pay the legal fees to fight for the rights of recovering addicts and the State is using your money, yes, taxpayer’s money, to take away the best sober living houses in the state. You would think they would be knocking on our doors seeking “Best Practices” instead.
I am asking that you help me to help our community.
1. Call New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy (609-292-6000 – Email: constituent.relations@nj.gov) and say “We write today with extreme conviction regarding the absurd penalties from Department of Community Affairs on the Hansen Foundation/Serenity House, LLC in the sum of more than $594,000. We adamantly request DCA to either suspend the fines until the Hansen Foundations pending action in the United States District Court in Camden is settled or meet with the Foundation in an attempt to work out an agreement. These fines will bankrupt the Hansen Foundation. This is the best my ___________ has ever done in their recovery process and I am asking you to “have our back” and the back of the Hansen Foundation. They are truly addressing the needs of recovering addicts during the worst heroin crisis this state has ever seen. Please don’t allow them to shut down.” Feel free to use your own words and personal details. If you talk to someone, tell them we want the same accommodation they give to Oxford House.
Also send to Lt. Governor Sheila Oliver – Email: commissioner@dca.nj.gov
2. Sign our petition on org titled: “DCA to Grant Hansen Foundation a Reasonable Accommodation” and share it with everyone to get the word out.
3. Follow The Hansen Foundation Facebook for more updates to come.
4. Support the Assembly Bill 3607 to allow for Recovery Residences to be exempted by DCA when certified by NARR (National Alliance of Recovery Residences) affiliate.
I really need all the help I can get.
Namaste,
Jennifer Hansen
