What it is about Jon Bon Jovi that makes him more exciting than local developers like Bart Blatstein and Eric Blumenfeld? Is it that he's a rock star? A successful movie actor? An arena football magnate? Or is it that his JBJ Soul Homes in Francisville will provide 55 affordable apartments for formerly homeless and low-income families? Well, we suppose it depends on your priorities.
Yesterday was the groundbreaking for the new building, which will be on Fairmount between Broad and 15th and completed by November 2013. The lead funding comes from Bon Jovi's JBJ Soul Foundation, whose mission is "the creation of programs and partnerships targeted at breaking the cycle of poverty and homelessness."
The services for the residents of the JBJ Soul Homes will come from Project H.O.M.E., a homeless advocacy organization led by Sister Mary Scullion, who was featured in Time magazine's 100 Heroes and Icons in 2009. In fact, as far as the breaking the cycle of poverty and homelessness, Sister Mary is the real rock star. We're pretty sure Bon Jovi would agree.