The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and public and private funders are pooling their resources to support the development of a veterans program that will be housed at Project H.O.M.E.’s St. Elizabeth’s Recovery Residence in North Philadelphia. The funds will support the program and facility renovations. Funders and supporters who made this happen include the Veterans Administration/VA Medical Center in Philadelphia, the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare and State Representative John M. Perzel, the PA Housing Finance Agency, the City of Philadelphia, and Jon Bon Jovi and the Philadelphia Soul Charitable Foundation. Jon Bon Jovi is a philanthropist and dedicated supporter of other Project H.O.M.E. initiatives both personally and through the Philadelphia Soul Charitable Foundation. As co-owner of the Philadelphia Soul arena football team, he has a special interest and has a history of investing in the North Philadelphia neighborhood where Project H.O.M.E.’s new Veterans Program will be located.

A groundbreaking ceremony on Friday, May 9th at 3 p.m. will officially start the construction on this project. The ceremony will recognize Jon Bon Jovi, as well as local, state and federal officials including State Rep Perzel (confirmed), Mayor Michael Nutter (invited but not confirmed), Peter Dougherty, Director Homeless Veterans Programs, Dept of Veterans Affairs in Washington, D.C. and John G. Bravacos, Regional Director, United Stats Housing and Urban Development Region III Office.

The new Veterans Program was created by Project H.O.M.E. in a unique collaboration with the VA and the Philadelphia Veteran Affairs Medical Center. Project H.O.M.E. is one of the nation’s leading nonprofit organizations that provides services to help individuals break the cycle of homelessness and poverty. The program was developed because of the increasing number of homeless veterans who need help treating their addictions and to help them break their cycle of homelessness. Over the last year, 14 percent of Project H.O.M.E. residents at multiple sites have been identified as veterans.

Pennsylvania is home to the fifth largest veteran population in the U.S. More than 1.15 million veterans represent 9.4 percent of the total state populations (source: PA Dept of Military and Veterans Affairs, Bureau of Veterans Affairs.) The VA says the nation’s homeless veterans are mostly males and the vast majority are single, most come from poor, disadvantaged communities; 45 percent suffer from mental illness and have substance abuse problems. The VA estimates that nearly 200,000 veterans are homeless on any given night; 400,000 experience homelessness over the course of a year.

Project H.O.M.E.’s current facility for homeless men with addictions, St. Elizabeth’s Recovery Residence, will go through a major renovation and expansion in order to establish twelve units of transitional housing on the fourth floor designed and designated exclusively for homeless veterans. In addition, the renovation will add an elevator and four fully handicapped accessible rooms and associated bathrooms to introduce residents with physical disabilities to the program and assure that they have full access to the whole building. Since Project H.O.M.E. values green building standards, this renovation will also include many processes and products that meet green standards.

Over the years, Project H.O.M.E. has served thousands of these veterans through its existing housing and service programs; last year alone, Project H.O.M.E.’s outreach teams connected with more than 500 homeless veterans. More than 45 percent of those homeless veterans were dealing with both substance abuse and mental health disorders, with many suffering from undiagnosed and untreated PTSD.

“Many of the homeless veterans we engage are often unable or unwilling to enter the existing city shelter system or seem to fall through the cracks as they attempt to find help, so we recognize the need to create a treatment program especially for veterans,” said Project H.O.M.E. co-director Sister Mary Scullion. “In partnership with the VA Medical Center, we developed a program that will offer the intensive treatment, services, and supportive environment they need to help them improve their quality of life and get back on their feet.”

The goal of the residence is to help veterans find their way to permanent homes and productive work; medical care, job training, employment and housing assistance all will be available either on site or close by. Services available at the residence will include support groups designed for recovering veterans and others; connections for mental health and substance abuse treatment; and case management services to help residents construct a strong support network for themselves.

A health clinic next door to the center, developed in partnership with Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, will be staffed by doctors and nurses who specialize in the treatment of chronic diseases associated with post- traumatic disorders and homelessness.

The location of this new program for veterans is ideal because the “Project H.O.M.E” community in this particular section of North Philadelphia has become a true resource center since there are so many services in a three- block area. One block away from St. Elizabeth’s Recovery Residence is a state-of-the-art technology center, the Honickman Learning Center and Comcast Technology Labs, offers a wide range of adult learning and technology training programs, including literacy classes, computer training, and industry-specific career training. Residents will also have access to jobs in Project H.O.M.E.’s own network of community businesses and residences. Residents who complete the Veterans Program will receive help in obtaining permanent housing through Project H.O.M.E.’s many partnerships and housing resources.

Jon Bon Jovi Has United Habitat For Humanity, Project HOME in Philadelphia, The Philadelphia Soul Charitable Foundation, and Saturn – Together They Will Renovate 15 Decaying Homes In One of Philly’s Most In-Need Neighborhoods

Habitat For Humanity Announces That Jon Bon Jovi Will Become Their First Ever Habitat Ambassador

(Philadelphia, PA – October 5, 2006) – Standing in front of a block of vacant homes in North Philadelphia, Jon Bon Jovi today announced Project HOME’s Phase V Homeownership Project – a unique partnership that he has brokered between Project HOME, Habitat For Humanity, the Philadelphia Soul Charitable Foundation, and Saturn that will undertake the renovation of 15 row houses in one of Philadelphia’s most poverty-ridden neighborhoods.

President Bill Clinton attended, commending Jon Bon Jovi’s continued philanthropic efforts, the work of both Project HOME and Habitat For Humanity in the communities they serve, and companies such as Saturn who make community outreach a priority.

The Phase V Homeownership Project focuses on two blocks of historically significant, deteriorated row houses in North Central Philadelphia – the 1800 and 1900 blocks of North 23rd St. By employing “green building strategies,” Phase V will renovate existing structures into energy efficient homes containing Energy Star-rated appliances. In addition, reducing block density and developing side yards in the area are all significant steps in promoting long-term health, safety, and affordability for owners.

“We are thrilled to partner with Jon Bon Jovi, The Philadelphia Soul, Habitat and Saturn,” enthused Sister Mary Scullion, co-founder of Project HOME. “Our collective talent and resources will expand our capacity and enable us to reach out to more families in need. This is another critical step forward for community revitalization in North Philadelphia.”

Jon Bon Jovi – singer, songwriter, co-owner of the Philadelphia Soul Arena Football Team, actor and philanthropist – has had a relationship with Project HOME, whose efforts align with many of Habitat for Humanity’s own initiatives. Bon Jovi worked with Habitat last October (2005) when a Bon Jovi/Habitat For Humanity build of four homes in Philadelphia (which has since increased to six) served as the video shoot location for their chart-topping single, “Who Says You Can’t Go Home.” In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, Bon Jovi would later make an appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show with a surprise $1 million donation that has since been used by Oprah’s Angel Network and Habitat For Humanity to build 28 homes in Houma, Louisiana. Now, with plans for the 15 Phase V homes in place, Jon Bon Jovi is currently a motivating force behind a total of 49 homes being built for low-income families.

“These organizations have both made ‘home ownership through hard work’ a reality,” explained Jon Bon Jovi. “In working with Habitat and Project HOME, I’ve seen what a miraculous thing it is to hand someone the keys to a new home – not only a beautiful home that they can be proud to own, but a home that they’ve invested their own time, sweat, and resources in.”

Habitat For Humanity will assist with the development of Phase V and will spearhead the next phase of new homes (Phase VI). “Habitat for Humanity is proud to be a part of this partnership and join Project HOME in providing decent housing in partnership with low-income families in Philadelphia,” said Jonathan Reckford, Chief Executive Officer of Habitat for Humanity International. “We are also proud today to recognize Jon Bon Jovi as the first Habitat Ambassador of our newly created Habitat for Humanity Ambassador program.”

Project Home’s Phase V project represents an innovative public/private partnership with funds coming in from both sectors. While Sister Mary’s committed staff has worked tirelessly to secure public funding, it was the organization’s long-standing relationship with Jon Bon Jovi that made securing private funding a possibility. Saturn – who has worked closely with Bon Jovi on other initiatives – stepped up to round out the private sector financing needed to get Phase V off the ground.

“Since its inception, Saturn has embraced environmental commitment and giving back to the communities in which we do business,” said Jill Lajdziak, Saturn General Manager. “That’s why Saturn, along with its retailers and customers, are pleased to partner with Jon Bon Jovi, the Philadelphia Soul, Habitat for Humanity, and Project HOME to help construct eco-friendly homes for citizens of Philadelphia.”

The Phase V Homeownership Project is the continuation of Project HOME’s goal to revitalize their community by reducing blight and treating vacant properties one block at a time. Project HOME has led other initiatives in the area to empower inhabitants with a sense of responsibility and community with each other. These efforts include open-space/environmental enhancement, a community health service program, after-school and adult learning programs at the Honickman Learning Center and Comcast Technology Labs, and economic development along Ridge Avenue.

ABOUT PROJECT HOME:
Since 1989, Project H.O.M.E. has helped more than 7,000 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. We also work to prevent homelessness and poverty through comprehensive neighborhood revitalization in North Philadelphia. These efforts include the renovation of vacant or deteriorated houses which are then sold to first-time homebuyers, economic reinvestment along the Ridge Avenue Corridor, greening of vacant lots, adult and youth education and enrichment programs at the Honickman Learning Center and Comcast Technology Labs and community-based health care services. For more information go to www.projecthome.org

ABOUT JON BON JOVI:
Musician, singer, songwriter and actor, JON BON JOVI is most recognizable as the voice for the band BON JOVI. Since the group’s formation in the early 1980’s, BON JOVI has sold more than 100 MILLION records worldwide and at over 2,700 shows in 47 countries more than 32 million fans have seen BON JOVI in concert. The band’s latest album,

HAVE A NICE DAY, includes the smash hit “Who Says You Can’t Go Home” which made history as Bon Jovi became the first rock band ever to have a #1 hit on the country chart. The tour that followed was one of the top grossing tours of 2005/2006, playing to more than 2 million concert-goers worldwide. As the co-owner of the AFL’s Philadelphia Soul, Jon Bon Jovi introduced a new model of sports ownership. From the inception of the franchise, the mission was to use the team to give back to the local community. Heading into their fourth season, the Philadelphia Soul Organization has given away $2 million to local causes. Bon Jovi’s charitable works focus on the issue of homelessness and include the creation of the Philadelphia Soul Charitable Foundation; the launch of a limited edition outerwear collection with Kenneth Cole New York (with proceeds benefiting HELP USA); partnering with Project HOME in Philadelphia; and a sustained partnership with Habitat for Humanity that has thus far provided 49 families with a place to call home. For more info visit www.bonjovi.com and www.philadelphiasoul.com

ABOUT HABITAT FOR HUMANITY INTERNATIONAL:
Habitat for Humanity International is an ecumenical Christian ministry that welcomes to its work all people dedicated to the cause of eliminating poverty housing. Since its founding in Americus, GA in 1976, Habitat has built more than 200,000 houses in nearly 100 countries, providing simple, decent and affordable shelter for more than 1 million people. For more information, visit www.habitat.org

ABOUT GM:
General Motors Corp. (NYSE: GM), the world’s largest automaker, has been the global industry sales leader for 75 years. Founded in 1908, GM today employs about 327,000 people around the world. With global headquarters in Detroit, GM manufactures its cars and trucks in 33 countries. In 2005, 9.17 million GM cars and trucks were sold globally under the following brands: Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, GM Daewoo, Holden, HUMMER, Opel, Pontiac, Saab, Saturn, and Vauxhall. GM operates one of the world’s leading finance companies, GMAC Financial Services, which offers automotive, residential, and commercial financing and insurance. GM’s OnStarr subsidiary is the industry leader in vehicle safety, security, and information services. More information can be found at www.gm.com