When life seemed hopeless after years of several attempts at rehabilitation, at age 25 Jennifer finally entered a women’s transitional facility in California where she began to gather the tools she needed to live without drugs. Jennifer stayed in California for over two years while working and participating in 12-step recovery before returning to New Jersey.
Upon return to her hometown in the Atlantic City area, Jennifer saw the void in resources in New Jersey for people to recover long term and began on her mission to give others the tools and opportunities that made her recovery possible. In 1999, Hansen Foundation was formed and since then, she has opened beds for those seeking recovery with the Hansen Houses, Serenity Houses and Serenity Estates.
Drug free since March 3, 1996, Jennifer is now 24 years clean. Through establishing The Hansen Foundation in 1999, she has continued her efforts to help those in need.
Jennifer used to say, “Why Me??? Why did I have to be an addict?” Now she knows. “Some of us have to get down in the hole and learn how to get out so that we can show others. Every step I took along the way was God leading me. The best feeling ever is when someone comes up to me and says, ‘that house saved my life, thank you so much for giving me a place to recover.’ There is nothing better than that.”