Category Archives: Editorial

November 11 2019

JBJ Soul Foundation, HELP USA and Partners Welcome Veterans Home to Walter Reed

Formerly homeless DC veterans move in to supportive housing on the former site of Walter Reed Army Medical Center

(WASHINGTON, DC) – HELP USA CEO Tom Hameline, DC Mayor Muriel Bowser and other project supporters cut the ribbon for the HELP USA Walter Reed Veteran Apartments. This new 100 percent affordable development provides permanent supportive housing for 77 previously homeless veterans.

“There can be no higher or better use of this historic site than to continue serving the men and women of the Armed Services.” said Tom Hameline. “Because of the vision of the District government, the generosity of our private sector partners, and the hard work of my team, we can today move seventy-seven veterans off the street and offer them what they always deserved, a place to call home.”

This project was built by HELP USA, a national housing and homelessness non-profit and developed in partnership with the District of Columbia as part of their fifteen-year redevelopment of the sixty-six acre parcel that was once home to the Walter Reed Army Medical Center. HELP’s building is the first residential development to open on the campus.

“When our veterans experience a housing crisis, we’re going to be there for them with programs in that in safe, service-enriched permanent housing,” said Mayor Bowser. “Our vision for Walter Reed was to deliver community benefits and build a neighborhood that will benefit Washingtonians for generations to come. We built on that commitment today by supporting our most vulnerable residents and ending homelessness by opening new affordable housing for District veterans.”

The building was designed to serve the unique needs of formerly homeless veterans. It features seventy-seven studio apartments, office space for medical staff, counselors and case managers, a cafeteria, a gym, and a landscaped courtyard.

It was funded through government sources and the generosity of private donations. Grants from lead private funder, the Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation, as well as generous contributions from The Weinberg Foundation, The Abell Foundation, The Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh, The Home Depot Foundation, the Local Initiatives Support Corporation, and the National Equity Fund comprised a large portion of the funding and were instrumental in the development financing.

“The JBJ Soul Foundation is proud to once again partner with HELP USA as we welcome 77 Washington D.C. veterans to a place they can call home. We were called on to lead the private sector investment at Walter Reed and are proud to have this opportunity to say thank you to those who so bravely serve our country,” said Jon Bon Jovi.

*Jon Bon Jovi with one of the veterans moving in to her new apartment at Walter Reed*

The 77 units to be constructed will be offered at the following affordability levels: 75 permanent supportive housing units at 30 percent Median Family Income for chronically homeless veterans and two units at 50 percent median family income. The site of the project is the former Abrams Hall (Building 14), was originally constructed in 1976 as barrack housing for soldiers receiving long-term medical care who were able to live semi-independently.

“In supportive housing communities like Walter Reed, people have the chance to heal, rebuild their independence and find hope again,” said Debbie Burkart, who leads the LISC/NEF Bring Them Homes initiative, which has fueled thousands of affordable housing units with services for veterans. “We’re grateful to investors and philanthropic funders like Morgan Stanley, Cathay Bank, Citi Community Development and Northrup Grumman, all of which recognized the importance of this project early on and saw the tremendous capacity of HELP USA to make it a reality. We could not be prouder to be their partners in the critical work.”

The project was designed by Weincek Associates, built by Ellisdale Construction and Development and made possible by construction financing through TD Bank.

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October 17 2019

Joseph’s House of Camden Celebrates Expanded Facilities and New Services on World Homeless Day

Grand Open House included facility tours and remarks from key donors,
including Jon Bon Jovi

Camden, NJ – October 17, 2019 – Joseph’s House of Camden (JHOC), a South Jersey-based homeless shelter committed to providing shelter and support for those in need, hosted a Grand Open House on October 10, World Homeless Day, to celebrate the opening of expanded facilities and the addition of day services. The day’s program featured remarks from Executive Director Shawn Sheekey, Camden Mayor Frank Moran and representatives from donor organizations, including Rock and Roll Hall of Fame artist, philanthropist and New Jersey native, Jon Bon Jovi, who supports the shelter as Chairman of the JBJ Soul Foundation.

The brief program included an invocation from JHOC Board Member Father Mike McCue, an inspiring story from Liz Holmes, a former guest who was able to overcome homelessness and a 30-year addiction with the help of Joseph’s House staff and fellow guests. Also on hand to make remarks were representatives of other major capital campaign donors, Sandy Capell,Manager, Corporate Responsibility and Philanthropy for the Subaru of America Foundation and Tim Durkin, Vice President for Grantmaking at the Connelly Foundation.

During the event, guests, donors and community partners toured the expanded facilities and spoke with local service providers who are now more accessible to guests with the new day program in place. These organizations include Rutgers Health Services, Taylor Care Adult Behavioral Health, Center for Family Services – Living Proof Recovery Center, Maryville Addiction Treatment Centers, Project H.O.P.E., Camden County Board of Social Services, Amerigroup and Camden Coalition.

“Today marks a watershed moment in Joseph’s House’s history. We have many great things to celebrate and be grateful for: our renovation and expansion and, most importantly, the start of our new day program which enables us to double down on the critical services we provide to the most vulnerable members of our community,” said Shawn Sheekey, Executive Director of Joseph’s House of Camden, “This is a crucial step toward our goal of ending homelessness in South Jersey and we are eternally grateful to our donors, volunteers and community supporters who share in this vision and helped get us here.”

The new, 17,000 square foot, $1.2 million renovated facility expands Joseph’s House’s overnight capacity from 80 to 90 cots. At the heart of the upgraded shelter is The HUB, a dedicated space for guests to meet one-on-one with service providers. Adjacent to the HUB is a spacious waiting room, where guests can read, watch TV or socialize while they wait to meet with providers. Other features include a computer room where guests can work on resumes and search for jobs or housing, an upgraded laundry facility and lockers for storing personal belongings.

“We are proud to partner with Joseph’s House to help bring critical services to those most in need,” said Jon Bon Jovi, JBJ Soul Foundation Board Chairman. “Thank you to everyone who supported the new renovations and expanded day program at Joseph’s House and for continuing to take hope to the next level in Camden.”

About Joseph’s House of Camden

Joseph’s House of Camden is a non-profit homeless shelter that collaborates with community members and partners to aid South Jersey’s homeless men and women by offering a continuum of services including emergency shelter, and access to supportive housing and comprehensive social services. On average, the facility provides food and shelter for 80 homeless men and women each night, and now provides day-services in order to provide additional support for men and women in the region. Information and links to donate can be found on the website.

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February 20 2019

Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation, Sands Cares Help Nevada Partnership for Homeless Youth Kick Off Housing Expansion Campaign with Initial Funding Commitments

UPDATE: Thanks to your support, JBJSF was able to unlock their match grant of $100k to contribute to the NPHY Housing Expansion Campaign in Southern Nevada. We ask that you work together to raise from 68% to 100% of our overall goal and help us make a difference.

New Campaign Will Support Additional Beds for Homeless and At-Risk Youth, Addressing a Key Strategy Outlined in the Southern Nevada Plan to End Youth Homelessness

LAS VEGAS, February 20, 2019 – Nevada Partnership for Homeless Youth today launched a Housing Expansion Campaign to generate funds for a new facility that will provide much-needed beds for homeless youth in Southern Nevada, and announced a $100,000 seed investment from Las Vegas Sands (NYSE: LVS) through Sands Cares. As a committed partner in the fight to end youth homelessness, Sands reached out to the Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation to join the effort, marking the Soul Foundation’s first charitable investment in Southern Nevada.

NPHY aims to raise $500,000 through the Housing Expansion Campaign and will use funds to purchase and develop a new multi-family property to flexibly house homeless and at-risk youth. Beyond the seed investment from Sands Cares, the Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation is pledging to match additional donations dollar for dollar, up to $100,000, to inspire the Las Vegas community to take action and help our region’s most vulnerable population.

“For a homeless youth, having a bed means more than just a place to sleep — it’s their foundation for a brighter future,” said Arash Ghafoori, executive director of NPHY. “Today, our community only has enough youth-dedicated beds to serve less than 22 percent of the young people experiencing homelessness on a given night in Southern Nevada. Expanding NPHY’s housing inventory means more youth not only have a place to sleep, they have the safety, stability, and support needed to grow and thrive.”

The NPHY Housing Expansion Campaign is targeting major gifts from corporations and foundations, and the community can also make significant impact by donating online at www.nphy.org/aplacetosleep.

“The high rate of youth homelessness and the dire need for housing in Southern Nevada was distressing to us,” said Jon Bon Jovi, Board Chairman of the JBJ Soul Foundation. “We are pledging support for this campaign through a matching grant because we want to motivate others to take action. Together, we can give homeless youth more than just a place to sleep – we will provide them with the resources they need for self-sufficiency and success.”

Since 2006, the JBJ Soul Foundation has worked to break the cycle of hunger, poverty and homelessness through developing partnerships, creating programs and providing grant funding to support innovative community benefit organizations. The foundation has helped provide funding for more than 600 units of affordable and supportive housing in 10 states for thousands of people including youth and veterans.

“We knew that getting the JBJ Soul Foundation involved in Southern Nevada would be a great catalyst for our community, having seen the amazing results they have accomplished in other parts of the country,” said Ron Reese, senior vice president of global communications and corporate affairs at Las Vegas Sands. “We hope to see a big community rally around the campaign momentum started by the JBJ Soul Foundation and Sands Cares. It’s imperative that we give our community’s vulnerable youth a fresh start.”

The new housing facility will add significant capacity to an already under-resourced support system for homeless youth in Southern Nevada. NPHY’s planned multi-family property will not only provide beds for youth, but also a foundation for delivering a myriad of services to put homeless youth on a pathway to self-sufficiency. Youth in NPHY’s housing programs also receive wraparound support services, including one-on-one case management with a licensed social worker, life skills classes, therapy, workforce readiness training, educational counseling, transportation assistance, enrichment opportunities, and referrals to a wide range of community resources.

The NPHY Housing Expansion Campaign comes in direct response to the recently released Southern Nevada Plan to End Youth Homelessness, which mapped out a strategy of increasing housing through innovative funding partnerships such as this one. Unveiled at the second annual Southern Nevada Youth Homelessness Summit, presented by NPHY and Sands Cares in November 2018, the plan addressed the alarming youth homelessness statistics that plague this region. Clark County’s metro area ranks fifth in the nation for the rate of unaccompanied homeless youth living on the streets or in shelters and the state of Nevada has the nation’s highest rate of unsheltered homeless youth, according to the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development. Underscoring these numbers, Las Vegas was named the worst U.S. metropolitan area for providing affordable rental housing for its poorest families in 2018, with only 15 affordable and available rental homes for every 100 low-income renter households.

To learn more about NPHY’s capital campaign or make a campaign pledge, visit www.nphy.org/aplacetosleep.

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Contacts:

Lanette Rivera
Nevada Partnership for Homeless Youth lanette@nphy.org
702-688-1013

Kristin Koca
Las Vegas Sands Corp. Kristin.Koca@sands.com
702-414-3218

Lauren Brajer
JBJ Soul Foundation lauren@jbjsoulfoundation.org
973-580-1575

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January 24 2019

JBJ Soul Kitchen, Murphy Family Foundation, Announces Ongoing Partnership

Furloughed federal workers can receive a free meal at either JBJ Soul Kitchen location throughout the shutdown

Due to the tremendous demand demonstrated by participation in this week’s events, The Philip and Tammy Murphy Family Foundation is announcing that they will continue their partnership with JBJ Soul Kitchen on an ongoing basis. Starting today, any furloughed federal employee may receive a free meal at either Toms River or Red Bank JBJ Soul Kitchen location during their regular service hours throughout the government shutdown.

The JBJ Soul Kitchen in Red Bank can be found at 207 Monmouth Street, just one block from the Red Bank train station. The JBJ Soul Kitchen’s Toms River location can be found at 1769 Hooper Avenue. Those wishing to participate should bring proof of federal employment.

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January 22 2019

Soul Kitchen Partners with The Murphy Foundation Sponsor Meals for Furloughed Employees

Red Bank – The Murphy Family Foundation, Phil and Tammy Murphy’s philanthropic organization, is announcing a partnership with JBJ Soul Kitchen in Red Bank to provide free meals to furloughed federal workers. The first meal will be available this Monday, January 21, from noon to 2 pm, with Tammy Murphy and Dorothea Bon Jovi in attendance.

“Too many working families in New Jersey struggle to make ends meet every day, and just one missed paycheck can mean financial catastrophe,” Phil and Tammy Murphy said. “We are committed to doing everything we can to help hard-working federal employees, who have now been out of work a full month, through this prolonged and meaningless shutdown. Until this shutdown ends, it is incumbent upon all of us to help our fellow New Jerseyans through this difficult time.”

“Since founding the Soul Kitchen, we wanted to ensure that anyone struggling with food insecurity had a place to go,” Dorothea and Jon Bon Jovi, of JBJ Soul Kitchen, said. “This Monday, we will be open for lunch as a way to create a place of support and resources for furloughed federal workers, many of whom are our friends and neighbors. We are thrilled to work together with Phil and Tammy Murphy on this endeavor, and this Monday we look forward to giving back in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.”

The JBJ Soul Kitchen can be found at 207 Monmouth Street in Red Bank, just one block from the Red Bank train station. The initial meal will take place this Monday, January 21, from 12 to 2 pm. The second meal will be served at JBJ Soul Kitchen in Toms River at 1769 Hooper Avenue. Those wishing to participate should bring proof of federal employment.