For more pictures of JBJ Soul Homes please visit our Photo Gallery

For video of Jon Bon Jovi’s Speech please visit our Video Gallery

PROJECT HOME CELEBRATES OPENING OF JBJ SOUL HOMES

Funders Jon Bon Jovi and Middleton Family Join City Officials to Open the Mixed-Use Development for Formerly Homeless, Teens Aging out of Foster Care and Low-Income Individuals

PHILADELPHIA, April 22, 2014 – Project HOME announced today the grand opening of JBJ Soul Homes, a four-story mixed-use development that includes retail, offices and 55 apartment units for formerly homeless and low-income people. With remarks by Jon Bon Jovi, public officials and community partners, the opening will serve as the first part of Project HOME’s 25th Anniversary.

“The single most effective way to end homelessness is affordable housing,” said Sister Mary Scullion, who co-founded Project HOME in 1989. “Over time, JBJ Soul Homes will give hundreds of people a permanent home with supportive services that will allow them to flourish.”

JBJ Soul Homes’ residents will have access to all Project HOME services including basic medical care and fitness classes through its Health Initiative Program, employment training through its Employment Services Department, education access through its Honickman Learning Center and computer use through its Comcast Technology Labs.

The building received both private and public funding. The lead private funding came from the JBJ Soul Foundation, Leigh and John Middleton, and Elizabeth Moran and the lead public funding came from US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the City of Philadelphia. People for People, Inc. will manage the retail space and Project HOME is managing the residences.

“The opening of the JBJ Soul Homes is another example of what I like to call, The Power of WE” stated Jon Bon Jovi, Chairman of the Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation. “It is a natural continuation of the work that we do, which started with the youth at Covenant House several years ago.”

The Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation, with its lead gift for the development of this project, provides leadership in affordable housing in Philadelphia and in its Soul Home in Newark, NJ. Mimi Box, JBJ Soul Foundation Director said, “We are committed to promoting innovation and long-lasting solutions to rebuilding pride in one’s self and one’s community, one SOUL at a time.”

JBJ Soul Homes is the second project of the Middleton Partnership. The Middleton Partnership, funded by a transformational leadership gift from Leigh and John Middleton and leveraging the support of both public and private funders, supports Project HOME’s strategy to end chronic street homelessness in Philadelphia over the next few years.

For more information about the JBJ Soul Homes and Project HOME, or how you can help, visit projecthome.org

To see photos from Joseph’s House, please visit our Photo Gallery

CAMDEN, N.J. – As part of his ongoing commitment to help the residents of Camden, Jon Bon Jovi today visited the future home of Joseph’s House of Camden. Joseph’s House is a new homeless facility that is being partially funded by the Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation and is supported by The Joseph Fund – a Camden-based organization created in 2012 to provide fundraising and consultative support to the six ministries served by St. Joseph’s Pro-Cathedral.

Bon Jovi was joined by Camden Mayor Dana Redd, donors supporting the initiative and residents who have benefited from services of The Joseph Fund.

“We remain committed to Camden,” Jon Bon Jovi said about the Soul Foundation’s involvement in this project. “Today we have had the opportunity to see the progress on what a year ago was just a vision. We offer our sincere thanks to all the organizations and individuals involved in making Joseph’s House possible.”

The mission of Joseph’s House is to work collaboratively with others to aid the homeless men and women of Camden by offering a continuum of services including emergency shelter, a range of supportive housing, and access to comprehensive social services. Previously, Joseph’s House operated as a temporary, six-month facility offering food and shelter for the area’s chronically homeless during the winter months. When complete, the new site of Joseph’s House will accommodate 75 adults each night, providing food, shelter and support services for Camden’s homeless population year-round, with a longer-term goal of developing day programs.

“We understand the importance of providing onsite social services in addressing the long-term cycle of homelessness. With this new facility, we will expand those services to more men and women in need and help them secure stable futures,” said John Klein, executive director, Joseph’s House.

“Joseph’s House is designed to connect individuals with services that can lead them out of homelessness. Through help from our community partners, we hope to provide the help necessary for those who visit us to escape poverty,” said Monsignor McDermott, board chairman of The Joseph Fund and pastor, St. Joseph’s Pro-Cathedral, who helped Klein spearhead the transition of Joseph’s House from a temporary facility into a year-round operation.

Joseph’s House will partner with Project H.O.P.E., an organization dedicated to serving the medical and social needs of the homeless population, to provide case management services and health care, mental health and substance abuse services. In addition, Our Lady of Lourdes Medical Center will operate a free onsite medical clinic utilizing volunteer physicians and nurses.

“The physical collaboration of providing shared services in one facility is unique to the city of Camden. Joseph’s House will be the only shelter offering this array of social services under one roof,” said Mark Hodges, executive director, The Joseph Fund.

Renovations of the building, located at 555 Atlantic Ave. in Camden, began in September and will continue to undergo renovations in order to house the Café Program, administrative offices and offices for social service partners of Joseph’s House. The project is expected to be completed by December 2013.

In addition to support from the Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation, Joseph’s House is being funded by contributions from the TD Bank Foundation, Halloran Philanthropies and Mr. and Mrs. Richard Haydinger.

Since 2006, the Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation has provided solutions and opportunity for families and individuals in economic despair. The organization assists in establishing programs that provide food and affordable housing for those affected by poverty and homelessness, while supporting social services and job-training programs.

The Joseph Fund supports six ministries that provide housing and youth programs, convert abandoned buildings into affordable homes, and much more to the Camden community. In addition to Joseph’s House, programs of The Joseph Fund include The St. Joseph’s Carpenter Society, St. Joseph’s Elementary School, The Child Development Center, Lifting Up Camden’s Youth (L.U.C.Y.), and Romero Center Ministries.

To see more photos, click here.

Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation joins Northern Children’s Services (formerly Northern Home for Children) as they celebrate the grand opening of Merrick Hall which will be home to formerly homeless teenage mothers and children

Philadelphia, July 31, 2014—When Jon Bon Jovi first stepped on Northern Children’s Services campus about ten years ago, he recognized the beauty in one particular building, Merrick Hall. Today, Merrick Hall opened its doors back up again for the first time at the Grand Opening and Dedication Ceremony.

The relationship between Northern Children Services and the Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation began back in 2004 when the Philadelphia Soul Arena Football team built a beautiful playground on the campus. Throughout the last decade the partnership has continued – culminating in JBJ Soul Foundation’s support of the renovation of Merrick Hall.

“From day one on the campus of Northern Children’s Services some ten years ago, I marveled at the history and hidden beauty of that old building – Merrick Hall,” stated Jon Bon Jovi, Chairman of the JBJ Soul Foundation. “When this project came about, it was a natural fit for us to provide one of the lead donations for this building. It is wonderful to see it now fully restored to glory and in use for such a purposeful cause – addressing the needs of young mothers in this community.”

Not only does Merrick Hall stand for the successful future of the Generations program, it represents the rich history behind the past 161 years of service of Northern Children’s Services. Thanks to this newly renovated building, the organization will be able to change the lives of more young women and children in the community who need it most, just as it was able to do in 1853 for orphans described as “innocent victims of social poverty during an era of unparalleled economic luxury.”

“The (Merrick) building will now expand our capacity to serve the needs of the Generation programs. In addition, it will provide 4 permanent housing units for our homeless Mother/Baby population. This is a tremendous accomplishment for Northern and the community that we serve. I am extremely proud and thankful to our Board of Directors, supporters and donors. Without their support, this would have not been possible,” said Tracey Lavallias, CEO and President of Northern Children’s Service.

A current resident of the Generations program, Brittney, gave a tearful speech to the crowd explaining the significant impact Northern Children’s Services and Generations program has had on the life of her and her son, Rashee.

“With all of this love and support given I was able to graduate from high school on time despite the fact I had my son at a young age. Furthermore, NCS as a team was very helpful and a huge blessing in making my prom a vigilant success,” Brittney said. “Ms. Cherenne (Peoples), Ms. Rasheedah (Small), Ms. Isis (Polard) and Ms. Nakia (Gordon), thank you for never turning your cheek. When times got rough – those times when I felt like giving up – your words of encouragement helped me through.”

For the full press release from this event, please click here

For more information on the Merrick renovation, capital campaign or Northern Children’s Services, please visit their website.