Because Living on a Prayer Alone Doesn't Pay the Bills

Jon Bon Jovi is going where few stars have gone before: affordable, supportive housing. The star is teaming up with Philadelphia-based non-profits to buld SRO housing to help formerly homeless men and women make the transition from the streets into housing.

Here's the scoop from the Philadelphia Enquirer:

Rock legend and homeless advocate Jon Bon Jovi is participating in a venture to build an eight-story facility to provide affordable single-unit housing for 79 men and women who want to transition from homelessness to independence.

The new building will be environmentally friendly, including a "green" roof, highly insulated walls, and a rainwater collection system. And seventy-five percent of the demolition materials will be recycled.

And, from dreamy rocker himself: "I understand to address homelessness and poverty we must come together and look for meaningful solutions. Improving the lives of Philadelphia's most vulnerable citizens improves the lives of all of its citizens."

It's funny, for all of the philanthropically-minded celebrities out there, we don't often see stars adopting "homelessness" as their pet issue. That is, unless they're standing in line at a soup kitchen. That's not to say that meal service isn't important (it is). But soup alone will not address the root cause(s) of homelessness, hunger, and poverty.

It's no wonder that housing and homelessness aren't favored by Hollywood publicists. It's a domestic issue with few photo ops and beneficiaries who are stigmatized by unfair and misguided stereotypes.

But leave it to Bon Jovi to make homelessness sexy.