Our Story
In 2013, Holly Sherman and Sharon Webber came together to create The Haven at College. Identifying that recovery and sobriety is not something you have to wait for, these two women had the goal of creating a space of young adults in recovery to find a fresh start. Havens were opened on college campuses across the country to help facilitate young sober people going back to school and starting their lives! The Haven at Drexel quickly became a weekend hub for young adults looking for sobriety. There is something magical about walking into a college house on a Saturday night to find 60 plus college aged kids sober and enjoying life. It instantly breaks stigma and challenges the belief that you are too young to get sober.
Jessica Corrar was the original Program Director at The Haven at Drexel in 2013. She was an integral part of bringing the Haven to Philadelphia from California. After getting sober at seventeen, Jess saw the importance of advocating for resources for college students struggling with substance use in college. Liz Ferris was a resident at The Haven at Drexel in 2014. After graduating with an MSW from Bryn Mawr College, Liz returned to the Haven at Drexel as their most recent Program Director.
Understanding the importance The Haven has held for the young adult community in Philadelphia, Jess & Liz have teamed up together to continue The Haven legacy in a more localized direction. We are excited to continue to offer the same level of care and support for the students at Haven by providing a safe living environment.
Meet Our Team
Co-Owner, Program Director
Liz Ferris LSW, CADC
Hey everyone! I am both an alumni and former employee of The Haven at Drexel. When I showed up at The Haven I had about three pages worth of transcripts and 50 credits to show for it. I had no idea what I was doing, but the idea of going back to school gave me a sense of purpose and self esteem I had not felt in a long time. With the help of the community of students already living at the house, I was able to apply and attend Drexel University. With the skills I learned while living at The Haven, I went on to grad school and completed a Masters in Social Work. Currently, I am a therapist working with adolescents and young adults and am ecstatic to continue on as the Program Director at PCR Haven!
PCR Haven is a special place for young adults in recovery to hang out, meet each other and see that recovery is possible and worth it! We’re excited to be able to offer everything the Haven has been for us these last seven years.
Co-Owner, Director of Operations
Jessica Corrar LCSW
I know from firsthand experience the challenges navigating both the stressors and successes associated with the college experience as a student in recovery. During my time obtaining my BS at Drexel University, I sought to address a need for a clearer pathway to meet and support other recovering students by forming a collegiate recovery group. Being a part of this community was an integral part of my success at school. That is why, after graduating with my MSW from University of Pennsylvania, I was motivated to seek out others who were pioneering Collegiate Recovery Communities. I feel incredibly lucky to have connected with The Haven at College through that experience, who provided us with the opportunity to start a Haven community here in University City, where I served as the first Program Director. I have consistently been in awe of the power and resilience of this community ever since.
I plan to utilize the knowledge I have gained in my social work journey as a provider, supervisor and administrator to continue to support this community. I am honored to partner with Liz to support the operations of PCR Haven to ensure this community is accessible to students both now and in the future!
House Manager
Heather Hendrickson
I started my journey in this house as a resident. Moving to Philadelphia almost directly out of inpatient rehab was a terrifying experience. I had just finished my bachelor’s degree in Archaeology from the University of New Mexico and moved across the country to start a master’s program at the University of Pennsylvania (with rehab in between). I was new to recovery, and new to the city. I did not know how I was going to stay sober when grad school would ultimately pile on loads of stress and deadlines. I found the Haven in an online search, reached out, and was able to move in right before the start of school. The Haven was exactly what I needed to help me navigate the waters of early sobriety, find an amazing sober community in a new city, and manage my mental health when times got tough. Fast-forward two years – I am almost finished with my Master’s degree in Historic Preservation and just celebrated two years of continuous sobriety. I would not have been able to accomplish any of that without the help of the Haven staff and community, and I will forever be grateful.
I am honored to be the new House Manager, and excited to use my experiences to help support the residents of this house in building their foundation for a solid life in recovery.
