NEWARK GENESIS APARTMENTS BREAKS GROUND WITH SOME HELP
FROM BON JOVI

Jon Bon Jovi, Gov. Jon Corzine, Mayor Cory Booker and HMFA’s Executive Director Marge Della Veccia attended the groundbreaking for the Newark Genesis Apartments on September 2, 2008.

The project, located in Newark’s North Ward,  will include  51 affordable family apartments,  in addition to  15 apartments for persons living with AIDS.  The nonprofit developer, HELP USA, is partnering with Broadway House to provide housing with support services to the individuals living with AIDS.  Broadway House, a continuing care organization in the North Ward, has been serving residents of Newark with AIDS for more than a decade.

Bon Jovi is contributing $1 million to the funding of Newark Genesis Apartments through his foundation, The Philadelphia Soul Charitable Foundation.  The foundation has been involved in building 140 homes in Philadelphia, New Orleans, and other cities throughout the country. HMFA and DCA are providing over $5 million in financing, which includes  $1.5 million from the Special Needs Housing Trust Fund.  Federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credits will generate more than $7.5 million in equity.

“Together we started something and now it’s your turn,” Bon Jovi said at a news conference announcing the project. “Together we can make a difference, one street, one neighborhood, one soul at a time.”