Did you know that almost half of Americans (146 million) classified as low income or below the poverty line?

Did you know that public housing provides homes and services to almost 2.2 million people in the US, with at least half a million of people on the waiting lists around the country?

Raising three children alone was tough for K., but was made easier by having a stable home for her and her family.

”Living in public housing gave me the opportunity to be a parent. I was able to spend more time with my children, instill them with morals and values, and make sure that they got a good education.”

K.’s children didn’t just dream of higher education, they pursued it. Her son is now an NCAA basketball coach. Her daughter has a degree in physics. Her youngest works at an organ donor clinic.

”They broke the cycle of poverty, and I’m proud of them every day. When you become a parent, you stop worrying about yourself, and you worry about what you can give to your children. I know that everything I was able to provide for them was because of public housing.”

Americans believe that all citizens deserve to have a safe and decent place to live. However, not many of them support an idea of public housing, even though it undoubtedly provides a hope for a better future and helps people to get on their feet. That’s why four-time Grammy Award nominated singer-songwriter and once homeless Jewel, who knows first hand that home is more than a place to live, raised her voice to raise awareness for the benefits of public housing and to encourage Americans to rethink their perceptions of public housing. She did it by writing a new song “Home to me”.

I’m so honored to share ‘Home to Me’ and my hope is that the song causes people to stop and rethink the importance of home. Millions of families, veterans, disabled and elderly citizens rely on public housing and I hope that through this new song people consider the positive impact of public housing.

As you are listening to Jewel’s new song, think of all people who are in need of safe housing in your community. You don’t have to be a songwriter to help. You can do so by supporting local charities that help homeless people to move into permanent homes. We have a few wishlists on Gooddlerplatform where you can purchase specific household items needed for new residents of public housing.

Please, consider purchasing items from wishlists of Volunteers of America Northern California NorthernNevada and Project Homeless Connect. 

The mission of Project Homeless ConnectTM (PHC) is to connect homeless San Franciscans with thecare they need to move forward.

Volunteers of America Northern California & Northern Nevada works to end homelessness, support the most vulnerable and transform the communities it serves into better places by providing essential human-service programs for more than 1,800 men, women and children every day.