Category Archives: Housing

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 June 11 2024 

JBJ Soul Foundation and New England Patriots Foundation Unite for Veterans: Groundbreaking Ceremony in Tewksbury, MA

November 11, 2022 – It was announced that the Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation has partnered with the New England Patriots Foundation, in a joint match grant in support of the build for Soldier On’s Gordon H. Mansfield Veterans Community, located in Tewksbury, Massachusetts. Soldier On is dedicated to providing and coordinating an extensive continuum of housing and support services for veterans who are homeless or at-risk of homelessness.

SOLDIER ON HOLD GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONY FOR PERMANENT HOUSING DEVELOPMENT FOR AT-RISK AND HOMELESS VETERANS

TEWKSBURY, MA (July 13, 2023) – Elected officials, community partners, and supporters gathered in the Town Common to celebrate the groundbreaking of the Gordon H. Mansfield Veteran Community.

TEWKSBURY, MA (June 2024) Soldier On is beginning to accept applications for apartments at the Gordon H. Mansfield Veterans Community. Throughout the summer, Soldier On will be scheduling informational and application sessions to provide more details and assist applicants in the process.

TEWKSBURY, MA (December 2024) We are projected to start moving veterans into their new homes at the Gordon H. Mansfield Veterans Community by December 2024.

Soldier On, based in Pittsfield, MA, is dedicated to providing and coordinating an extensive continuum of housing and support services for veterans who are homeless or at-risk of homelessness. The project, the Gordon H. Mansfield Veterans Community, will be the organization’s eighth permanent housing facility for veterans since it was founded in 1994.

The community is named for the late Gordon H. Mansfield, a highly decorated Vietnam War veteran who served as Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs, as well as Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equality Opportunity at the Department of Housing & Urban Development. During his military service, Mansfield earned the Distinguished Service Cross, the Bronze Star, three Purple Hearts, the Combat Infantryman Badge, and the Presidential Unit Citation.

Soldier On became the development lead for this project at the invitation of Tewksbury Home Build, a local housing nonprofit that gained control of the site through a town-supported process of creating affordable housing. The development is located at 1660 Main Street, adjacent to Heatherwood Gracious Retirement Living. The new four-story,18,565 sq. ft. building will provide 21 units of affordable permanent supportive housing for veterans who are homeless or at-risk of homelessness. All units will be fully furnished and include internet, cable, utilities and one meal per day. The facility will have a “Let’s Talk Interactive” telehealth kiosk and transportation provided to bring residents to appointments. Each veteran will have a case manager to ensure they receive the wrap around services they need.

About Soldier On
Soldier On is a private, nonprofit organization committed to ending veteran homelessness. Soldier On was organized in 1994 to provide a continuum of programs to ensure that homeless veterans and their families have access to immediate and long-term housing with an array of support services delivered directly to them where they live. The ultimate goal is to provide formerly homeless and at-risk veterans with permanent, supportive, sustainable housing. For more information, visit www.wesoldieron.org.

About The New England Patriots Foundation
Robert Kraft established the New England Patriots Foundation in 1994 as a way to give back to the communities the Patriots call home. The mission of the foundation is to aid individuals and families that are often marginalized in today’s society. Through the implementation of year-round programming and support of philanthropic agencies, the foundation is building stronger communities throughout New England. For more information about the New England Patriots Foundation, visit www.patriots.com/community.

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 August 8 2023 

JBJ Soul Foundation celebrates the Grand Opening of Inn of Amazing Mercy

Project HOME Achieves 1,000 Units of Supportive Housing in Philadelphia with Grand Opening of Inn of Amazing Mercy in Kensington on Thursday, Aug. 3

Newest residence at 115 E. Huntingdon Street amplifies Project HOME’s focus on the opioid epidemic as a major root cause of homelessness in Philadelphia and beyond

PHILADELPHIA, PA – August 3, 2023 – Project HOME today announced the grand opening of Inn of Amazing Mercy, the organization’s 20th supportive, affordable housing residence. Located at 115 E. Huntington Street, Inn of Amazing Mercy is Project HOME’s second recovery residence in the Kensington neighborhood of Philadelphia, adding to its housing, services, and resources focused on treatment and support for individuals experiencing homelessness and battling substance use disorder. With the opening of Inn of Amazing Mercy, Project HOME has now exceeded the creation of 1,000 units of affordable housing across Philadelphia.

“We’ve long recognized that in order to end and prevent homelessness in Philadelphia, we must directly address the root causes of this crisis, which for many unsheltered individuals includes substance use disorder,” said Sister Mary Scullion, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Project HOME. “The opening of Inn of Amazing Mercy in the heart of Kensington advances our work providing housing, healing, and hope on the front lines of the opioid epidemic. The fact that this residence marks our goal of building 1,000 units of permanent, supportive housing makes it especially meaningful, and we’re grateful to Ward and Kathy Fitzgerald and so many other visionaries for their generosity and commitment.”

Elevating a National Model for Street Medicine

The opening of Inn of Amazing Mercy enhances Project HOME’s nationally recognized Epstein Street Medicine Program by serving as a hub for the program’s groundbreaking work. With a deep understanding of the population experiencing homelessness in Philadelphia, three nurse practitioners and one registered nurse travel with Project HOME’s Street Outreach Team across the city, with a current focus on individuals living unsheltered in Kensington. Meeting and treating individuals where they are, the team delivers holistic, person-centered, and trauma-informed care through a harm-reduction lens, aiming to improve medical outcomes and enhance access to healthcare and support services. The program has emerged as a national model for combatting substance use disorder, among other health conditions, for those experiencing homelessness.

The opening of Inn of Amazing Mercy also follows the recent launch of the Estadt-Lubert Collaborative for Housing and Recovery, a groundbreaking partnership between Project HOME, Jefferson Health, Penn Medicine, and Temple Health that is changing the way the opioid epidemic is addressed for individuals experiencing homelessness. The Collaborative advances a comprehensive “healing ecosystem” comprised of integrated healthcare, employment and social wellness services, and permanent supportive housing, including at Inn of Amazing Mercy. The opening of the residence brings the Collaborative one step closer to achieving its goal of transforming the care of those who are unsheltered and suffering from substance use disorder.

About Inn of Amazing Mercy

Inn of Amazing Mercy contains 62 units of affordable housing — 50 units of long-term supportive housing and short-term housing and supplementary services for up to 12 persons with substance use disorder in 4 efficiency units and 8 respite beds. Residents are provided medication-assisted treatment through Project HOME’s Healthcare Services team, in addition to case management and peer support. Residents are also connected to employment and education services, including assistance with certifications, computer training, on-the-job coaching, skill development, and support needed for ongoing housing stability.

“When society encounters challenges, it takes the courage of the public and private sectors to become catalysts for change, and the team at Project HOME have proven to be that change agent in Philadelphia,” said Ward and Kathy Fitzgerald, philanthropists and lead donors of the new Inn of Amazing Mercy. “We are thrilled to join the other tremendous families that have supported Project HOME through the years in the Philadelphia area and feel fortunate to be specifically supporting this powerful project located in Kensington, which has the unfortunate distinction of being the epicenter of the opioid epidemic in the United States. With the Kensington section of the city continuing to draw national attention around this crisis, Inn of Amazing Mercy could be among the most critical seeds ever planted. The time has come for greater private involvement and the public sector at the State and Federal level, and we hope today’s grand opening helps to encourage this. We are humbled to be a small participant in the noble work the members of Project HOME perform every day.

”Inn of Amazing Mercy is the ninth project of MPOWER, a unique partnership model drawing on a powerful network of people and ideas that multiplies Project HOME’s impact in five key areas: investments, relationships, resources, advocacy, and evidence. The $27 million residence has been made possible in part by $14 million in private funding, contributed by over 20 donors. This includes leadership gifts made by Leigh and John Middleton and Pam Estadt and Ira Lubert, along with a portion of a $6.8 million gift recently made by the William Penn Foundation and capital gifts made by the Hess Foundation, the Maguire family, and the JBJ Soul Foundation.

“We’re thrilled and so proud to once again lend our support and vision to Project HOME’s ongoing mission with Inn of Amazing Mercy,” said Jon Bon Jovi, chairman of JBJ Soul Foundation. “On behalf of the entire JBJ Soul Foundation organization, I’d like to congratulate Project HOME on achieving its goal of 1,000 units of housing and continued efforts to tackle the root causes of homelessness and poverty.”

“With the opening of Inn of Amazing Mercy and our 1,000th unit of affordable housing, I’m proud of the progress we’ve made as an organization and the continued generosity of our growing community of MPOWER partners,” said Annette Jeffrey, Senior Vice President of Development and Communications at Project HOME. “When we talk about MPOWER, we talk about ‘The Power of We,’ and Inn of Amazing Mercy is yet another product of the supercharged support engine MPOWER has become through the collective partnership of so many like Ward and Kathy Fitzgerald who believe in a better tomorrow for Philadelphia.”

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 May 11 2022 

JBJ Soul Foundation Joins HELP USA to Celebrate Grand Opening of New Affordable Housing for Veterans and Seniors

HELP USA, Philadelphia Housing Authority, The City of Philadelphia, and The Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency Open New Affordable Housing for Veterans and Seniors

– HELP USA transforms unused Reynolds School into 55 apartments and support space for seniors and homeless veterans –

(May 11, 2022) Philadelphia – National housing nonprofit HELP USA, in partnership with the Philadelphia Housing Authority, the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency, PHDC, and the City of Philadelphia, celebrated the grand opening of The Brigadier General Hazel Johnson Brown Veterans Center at HELP Philadelphia VI. The renovation of the former school in the Sharswood neighborhood of North Philadelphia created 55 units of housing for seniors and homeless veterans.

“Opening our sixth project in Philadelphia is a significant milestone,” said David Cleghorn, Chief Housing Officer at HELP USA. “This building will provide housing and support services to people in need. Its transformation from an abandoned building into an asset for the neighborhood and the city exemplifies the best kind of public-private collaborations.”

The 51 one-bedroom and 4 two-bedroom apartments are designated for low-income seniors, veterans, and people with disabilities. Nine units have been set aside expressly for formerly homeless or special needs veterans. The building also houses a community room, health-service spaces, and office space for supportive services.

“We strongly support this development of Veterans housing for worthy veterans who need safe, affordable places to call home in Philadelphia,” said Philadelphia Council President Darrell Clarke. “These men and women served our Country admirably; now, it’s time we served them, and this development helps us all towards that worthy goal.”

The project serves as a partner to Philadelphia Housing Authority’s Sharswood Blumberg Neighborhood Choice Revitalization Plan. This ambitious plan is already working to radically transform the neighborhood from high-rise public housing to a more residential scale by renovating senior housing and constructing single-family townhouses.

“It is an honor to again support our great community partner HELP USA in its mission to provide homes for the people most in need, particularly our formerly homeless veterans,” said PHA President and CEO Kelvin A. Jeremiah. “Our commitment includes funding of more than $1,000 a month for the next 20 years for 49 of the units in this building, and a long-term $1.5 million loan. The conversion of this formerly vacant school building represents the latest addition to the ongoing, incredible transformation of Sharswood that PHA is privileged to lead.”

The project has received widespread support, including endorsements from Governor Tom Wolf, Mayor Jim Kenney, Council President Darrell Clarke, State Senator Sharif Street, and former U.S. Representative Bob Brady.

“PHDC is proud to be a part of this development that helps house our seniors and homeless veterans,” said David Thomas, CEO of PHDC. “Our commitment to affordable housing and community development through financing, land, and other solutions are important to projects like this. The Reynolds School, once used to educate our children, has been repurposed to become the Brigadier General Hazel Johnson Brown Veterans Center, helping house some of our most vulnerable residents in Philadelphia.”

Construction funding was provided by local, state, and federal partners and through generous contributions from the philanthropic world including Home Depot, and lead funder, the Jon Bon Jovi SOUL Foundation.

“The Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation is proud to once again partner with our friends at HELP USA”, said Leo Carlin, President of the Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation. “Joining forces on this project in Philadelphia was important to us as it addresses a huge need in this community by providing not only a safe place for people to call home, but also services that can help shape the rest of their lives. The JBJ Soul Foundation has always believed that projects like this one are made possible by organizations from all sectors coming together to make a difference and we are thrilled to be one of them.”

About HELP USA – HELP USA is one of the nation’s largest homeless service providers and low-income housing developers serving at-risk populations, including families, veterans, and victims of domestic violence. HELP USA currently serves more than 8,000 people every day at over 50 programs and residences across five states. Since its founding in 1986, HELP USA has served more than 500,000 men, women, and children and developed more than 2,500 units of housing.

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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