Jon’s first stop was in Camden, NJ where he visited with the students and staff of Hopeworks and the C.R.I.B. (Community Responding In Belief). The JBJSF provided funding for this project which opened its doors to its first resident in September 2010. The C.R.I.B. offers students a safe atmosphere with structured learning where youth can succeed. C.R.I.B. will house up to 10 youth, ages 18 and older, who must also be either enrolled in college courses or employed.

To view photos from Jon’s visit, please click HERE

For more information about Hopeworks ‘N Camden and the C.R.I.B. program please click HERE

Jon’s second stop of the day was to check on progress at the Connelly House in Center City Philadelphia. This project is currently under construction and is scheduled to begin accepting residents in Spring 2011. The JBJSF partnered with Project H.O.M.E. and Bethesda Project to help build a LEED-Certified apartment building that will serve as housing for formerly homeless men and women. The new 63,000-square-foot, eight-story high-rise consists of 79 single-resident units, as well as a multi-purpose room, computer lab, exercise facility, offices for Project H.O.M.E. and Bethesda Project, kitchens and additional social service amenities.

To view photos from Jon’s visit, please click HERE

For more information on the Connelly House, HERE

On June 29th, 2010 one of the homes that the Soul Foundation has helped to rebuild was sold to Angela (pictured above, taken at the closing table). When SJCS spoke with Angela, a nurse’s aide, following her first weekend in her house, she had already painted some of the walls to make the home feel more like hers! She specifically chose this house because of the hardwood floors that funding from the Soul Foundation allowed Saint Joseph’s Carpenter Society to install. Her son has terrible asthma and she was excited to find a house with the hardwood floors.

A buyer has also been identified for another home that the Soul Foundation helped restore. Luis has been working with the SJCS program for over 5 years, with the goal being to buy a home. A security guard, and currently living in the basement of his mother’s house in Camden, he is excited to be buying this house which will allow him to reunite his family. The SJCS is working with Luis to buy this house next week by taking advantage of home buyer assistance programs.

With these two houses sold, that leaves one of the Soul Foundation supported homes left to go which SJCS will now be working on full time. All of the demolition has been completed, which was performed by a majority of volunteer crews. SJCS has already identified a buyer for this house, a family who has been working with SJCS to prepare for this next step in owning their own home.

Congratulations to all of our new homeowners – we know it has been a long process and we salute your perseverance and vision!

The photo above includes new homeowner Angela, with her friend, Rosie (mortgage counselor for SJCS) and Richard, owner of Collegiate Title Agency, where the closing took place

To learn more about Saint Joseph’s Carpenter Society, Click HERE