Jon Bon Jovi joined with homeless advocates on Tuesday to celebrate the opening of a transitional housing unit for young adults.

Jon Bon Jovi’s Soul Foundation has been supporting Covenant House’s work with homeless young people for two decades.  Recently, the singer/songwriter was named to a White House council that will deal with the problem nationwide.

“I’m going to be very proud to go back to Washington and share with my fellow council members about what’s being done here in Philadelphia; to offer it as yet another example and inspiration of what can be done in other communities across the nation.

The new Rites of Passage housing unit on Kensington Avenue will offer 20 young people at a time temporary housing while they work to become independent.  New resident 21 year old Bianca Cruz has struggled with housing since she was 12.

“I’m very excited.  From the moment I saw this building, I’ve been the happiest person in the world.”

Photo credit: Jon Bon Jovi, left, Mayor Michael Nutter, right, and Cordella Hill, Executive Director of Covenant House Pennsylvania, center, takes part in a ceremony marking the opening of Covenant House’s new facility.