Thanks to a vision and partnership between Project H.O.M.E. and Bethesda Project, support from the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, public and private funders, and unprecedented community support, 79 formerly homeless men and women in recovery from mental illness and addictions will move into new supported affordable housing in Center City Philadelphia by December 2010. The organizations held a ceremony on July 8th to celebrate groundbreaking and to unveil a rendering of the new building to the public.

"When Fr. Frank Yacobi, pastor of St. John the Evangelist Church first asked Bethesda Project if we’d be interested in using their unused parish buildings to help people who are homeless, we immediately said yes," said Angelo Sgro, Executive Director of Bethesda Project. "When we decided to build a new building on the site, we asked Project H.O.M.E. to partner with us because of their expertise in developing this type of housing."

At the groundbreaking ceremony, an enthusiastic crowd of supporters heard from speakers that included Angelo Sgro, Executive Director for Bethesda Project; Sister Mary Scullion and Joan Dawson McConnon, co-founders of Project H.O.M.E.; Cardinal Justin Rigali; Don Billingsley, Project Manager; Brian Hudson, Executive Director, Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency; Deborah McColloch, Director, Philadelphia Office of Housing and Community Development; and project donor Jon Bon Jovi, Chairman, Philadelphia Soul Charitable Foundation Board of Directors.

Located in the heart of Center City Philadelphia, the building will be named in memory of John and Josephine Connelly, founders of the Connelly Foundation, which has provided decades of generous support to both Bethesda Project and Project H.O.M.E. Residents of the new building will have easy walking access to public transportation, shopping, cultural activities, and other services. In addition to single rooms and efficiency apartments, the LEED-certified, eight-story, 79 unit facility at 13th and Market Streets will provide a multi-purpose room, laundry room, exercise room, multiple kitchens, offices, storage, and a lobby/reception area as well as a community room for Project H.O.M.E and Bethesda Project programs. The first floor will mostly be taken up by the parish center for St. John's Parish; the next two floors will house clients of Bethesda Project; and the upper five floors will house clients of Project H.O.M.E. The facility will be located behind St. John the Evangelist Church and priory.

LEED-certification means that the building will be built to the highest standards of energy efficiency and sustainability. The building includes a green roof, highly insulated walls to improve thermal performance, a rainwater collection system for irrigation, high-efficiency mechanical systems and lighting, 20% of materials for the facility will be constructed using recycled content and 75% of all demolition materials will be recycled.

"We are extremely proud not only of the opportunity this project provides for the homeless community, but also of the unique collaboration among organizations and neighbors that went into making this possible," said Sister Mary Scullion, Executive Director of Project H.O.M.E. "This incredible partnership with Bethesda Project, the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, St. John the Evangelist Church, and the project's neighbors, has allowed us to combine resources and create something that will have a tremendous impact on our community."

Among the donors that provided their generous support to Bethesda Project for the project are: the Bryn Clovis Foundation, JPMorgan Chase, Mrs. Betty Moran, and the Oak Foundation. Bethesda Project would also like to thank our new neighbors for their support, especially Loews Philadelphia Hotel and SEPTA.

Click here to see some photos from this memorable event!