Jon Visits CityWalk...

Jon Bon Jovi checks out Dallas efforts to help homeless
by GARY REAVES / WFAA-TV



DALLAS — Signing autographs is what you'd expect from a rock star. But we found Jon Bon Jovi is doing it in the most unlikely of places: CityWalk at 511 Akard Street in downtown Dallas.

A 1950s-era high-rise, the building recently opened with high-end condos, moderate rent apartments and homes for the formerly homeless — all under one roof.

Bon Jovi's Soul Foundation has spent $6 million building affordable houses. Now, in every city where he plays a concert, he's also taking tours like this, looking for ideas and trying to inspire others.

"There are a lot of hard-working families who have been displaced in the last couple of years," he said.

Bon Jovi gets his inspiration from Sister Mary Scullion, a nun from Philadelphia who is an affordable housing activist. She says housing like CityWalk works on many levels.

"What we've found is permanent supportive housing saves lives, but it also saves the taxpayers money in terms of prison costs, shelter costs, and emergency room costs," she said.

Sister Mary is also the inspiration behind the Bon Jovi song, "We Weren’t Born to Follow."

After touring CityWalk, Bon Jovi joined Jerry Jones' daughter Charlotte at the Salvation Army's Casa Shelter, which provides emergency housing for kids.

Bon Jovi says it's time to change from the "me" decade to a "we" decade.

"This is the issue that moves me," he said. "It may not be the issue that moves them, but the point is: Find something that does. Volunteer."










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