“The single most effective way to end homelessness is affordable housing,” said Sister Mary, co-founder of Project H.O.M.E. “Over time, this project will give hundreds of people a decent home with supportive services that will allow them to flourish.”

JBJ Soul Homes’ residents will have access to all Project H.O.M.E. 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, slated to open in November 2013, receives both private and public funding. The lead private funding comes from the JBJ Soul Foundation and the Middleton Partnership. The lead public funding comes 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 H.O.M.E. will manage the residences.

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 Executive 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 is funded by a transformational leadership gift from Leigh and John Middleton and supports Project H.O.M.E.’s strategy to end chronic street homelessness in Philadelphia. The Middleton Partnership leverages the support of both public and private funders.

About Project H.O.M.E

Since 1989, Project H.O.M.E. has helped more than 8,000 people break the cycle of homelessness and poverty by providing a continuum of care that includes street outreach, supportive housing and comprehensive services that focus on health care, education and employment. The organization also works to prevent homelessness and poverty through comprehensive neighborhood revitalization in North Philadelphia. These efforts include the renovation of vacant or deteriorated houses that are then sold to first-time homebuyers; economic reinvestment along the Ridge Avenue Corridor; adult and youth education and enrichment programs at the Honickman Learning Center and Comcast Technology Labs; and community-based health care services. To learn more, visit www.projecthome.org.

The newly renovated three-story Merrick Hall will encompass 15,000 square feet of residential space that will double the number of mothers and babies served, including service to pregnant teens. The building will include both transitional and permanent housing in a supportive living environment for the families.

Craig Spencer, Vice-Chairman of the Board of the Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation, spoke of the foundation’s relationship with the agency and announced its $100,000 commitment, specifically to support the permanent housing portion of the project. The Honorable Curtis Jones, Jr., City Councilman for the 4th District in Philadelphia, also attended the ceremony and extended greetings and congratulations.

In addition to the groundbreaking, the agency announced its new name, Northern Children’s Services. “Over the years, our organization has evolved greatly from a refuge and respite for children that was founded in 1853, to the comprehensive social service agency it is today,” says Tracey Lavallias, President and CEO, Northern Children’s Services. “Our name change to Northern Children’s Services reflects our core mission and response to the emerging needs of the children we serve and allows us to more effectively work throughout the region.”

Today, Northern Children’s Services is the oldest residential facility in Philadelphia and continues to assist children and families to achieve their maximum psychological, social and economic potential, while fully respecting the dignity and worth of each individual and the integrity of the family. “Although our name and logo have changed, our commitment to keeping children safe, strengthening families, and providing high quality services in the most compassionate, professional and cost effective environment of excellence remains the same,” says Lavallias.

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

To view photos from this event, please visit our Photo Gallery

The Building a Healthy Neighborhood project recruits hundreds of volunteers, local leaders and officials to rehabilitate nearly 30 homes in the Overbrook neighborhood June 14 – 16. The work will address local families’ critical needs, including major interior and exterior rehabilitations, accessibility modifications and energy efficient upgrades. The volunteers will also participate in community clean-up and the installation of a new playground at the Overbook Environmental Education Center in partnership with Carter Oosterhouse’s charity Carter’s Kids.

The Building a Healthy Neighborhood mission is to demonstrate the positive effects of home and neighborhood revitalization on the overall health of homeowners, families and communities. The Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation has come on board as a partner, bringing along knowledge of the City after having participated in various housing projects in the past throughout Philadelphia. According to the Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation, the common theme of all of their past revitalization efforts has been to help strengthen the community by improving (or preserving) the housing stock and thus the lives of those within the community.

“We were excited for the opportunity to partner with Rebuilding Together on this project,” said Mimi Box, Executive Director of the JBJ Soul Foundation. “Upon hearing about the work they were setting out to do, we realized this build fits in perfectly with our model for community revitalization and incorporates the elements we look for in each build in which we participate: 1) the housing component – and here will affect the lives of 30 homeowners; 2) services and community support through the Education Center; 3) making the homes more energy-efficient; and 4) the very large volunteer component. Volunteerism is something that the JBJ Soul Foundation has long supported and is a cornerstone of our mission.”

“We are thrilled that the Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation will be supporting Building A Healthy Neighborhood in Overbrook with Rebuilding Together and Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation,” said Gary A. Officer, president and CEO of Rebuilding Together. “To see the momentum build among our sponsors and volunteers and know that the effort we are making will help sustain a landmark Philadelphia neighborhood in a healthy and viable manner is inspiring.”

“Creating safe and healthy living environments in the homes impacted by the Building a Healthy Neighborhood project helps bring vitality to families, neighborhoods and communities,” said Marshall Croom, chairman of Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation. “Our Lowe’s Heroes network of employee volunteers will be hard at work with community volunteers in Philadelphia to help make a difference for the families of Overbrook.”

Volunteers from Lowe’s, Wells Fargo, Citrin Cooperman, Rebuilding Together’s CapacityCorps alumni, Choice Hotels, and HGTV and DIY Network, will revitalize the Overbrook neighborhood and community center, as part of Rebuilding Together’s mission to provide a safe and healthy home for every person.

To see photos from this project, click HERE.

To read a story about this project on Philly.com, click HERE

ABOUT REBUILDING TOGETHER
Rebuilding Together believes in a safe and healthy home for every person. Rebuilding Together provides critical repairs to an existing home, addressing both structural issues and those that affect the health of the homeowners. House by house, block by block, we work with our nearly 200 affiliates, 200,000 volunteers, who are skilled tradespersons, corporate partners and everyday citizens, to repair homes, to stabilize and revitalize communities. For nearly 25 years, we have seen the benefits when people remain in their homes: lives are improved and communities are revived. See the difference we make at www.RebuildingTogether.org.

**ABOUT LOWE’S **
Lowe’s supports the communities it serves through programs that focus on K-12 public education and community improvement projects. The company’s signature education grant program, Lowe’s Toolbox for Education®, has donated nearly $5 million in grants to K-12 public schools every year since its inception in 2006. Lowe’s Heroes employee volunteers support local community projects and our national nonprofit partners such as Habitat for Humanity and the American Red Cross. In 2011, Lowe’s and the Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation together contributed more than $32 million to support communities in the United States, Canada and Mexico. To learn more, visit Lowes.com/SocialResponsibility.

ABOUT JBJSF
Since 2006, the Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation has existed to combat issues that force families and individuals into economic despair. Through the funding and creation of programs and partnerships, we support innovative community efforts to break the cycle of poverty and homelessness. It is the organization’s goal to recognize and maximize the human potential in those affected by poverty and homelessness by offering assistance in establishing programs that provide food and affordable housing while supporting social services and job training programs. Our goal is to assist with rebuilding pride in one’s self and one’s community – one SOUL at a time.