Fear and pain is now faith and support

“Stripped of everything, I finally heard God,” says domestic abuse survivor Jennifer Hebert. Since then she has found faith, freedom and a calling.

It had looked like Jennifer Hebert had it all – three kids, loving husband, well-paid job, beautiful house, big car.

So how did she become homeless; a single mum facing financial ruin and a possible prison sentence? Because behind closed doors lay a dark reality: she had endured domestic abuse for decades.

“I’d been in a very controlling relationship, living in silence, fear and pain,” Jennifer says.

“Like many women I believed love meant endurance and that staying quiet would keep me safe.”

The situation came to a head during her third pregnancy.

“The abuse had got more severe each time I was pregnant and when it happened again I found the courage to ring for help.

“Also, I was in a well-paid sales role, and my husband became so jealous and threatened by that that he made a false allegation against me to my boss. I was sacked while still on maternity leave.”

Jennifer fled to a refuge, now a homeless unemployed single mum caring for nine- and six-year-old boys and a baby.

Then a brutal court case brought by her husband piled on further strain.

“Partners often take the mother to family court when she leaves because they can no longer continue their abuse at home,” Jennifer explains.

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