John Legend is supporting an initiative to help college students pay rent.
Before becoming an EGOT-winning musician, Legend was a student at the University of Pennsylvania. According to TIME, he moved from a small town in Ohio and started working at a church to cover his expenses. This also led to him working with Lauryn Hill and receiving credit on “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill” single “Everything Is Everything” for playing piano, the outlet noted.
In addition to working at the church in Scranton, PA, he also had a work-study job to help cover his rent, according to Realtor.
“I was hustling, and I was doing it so I could pay my rent. …I know what it feels like to be in that position where you’ve got to figure out how to do it yourself,” he said, per the outlet. “I’m sure a lot of kids in school right now are in that same position.”
Now, Legend is partnering with Bilt, described as “the membership for where you live and the hospitality platform powering the residential ecosystem around it,” as well as Scholarship America for the October Rent Day initiative, according to a press release. As part of the scholarship program, some students living off campus who are at risk of eviction will receive rent assistance. Bilt members can also use their points to support Scholarship America on Rent Day, with all donated Bilt Points going to the organization.
The initiative will provide support by covering rent for 50 students attending the following universities:
- Morehouse College (HBCU)
- Central State University (HBCU)
- Wilberforce University (HBCU)
- University of Pennsylvania
“Education has always been such an important thing for me. I know what it meant for me to be able to go to college and get a great education; it set me up for life,” Legend said in the press release. “So, we’re partnering with Scholarship America to launch a Rent Assistance Program for students at several schools. [Many of] these students are at risk of eviction and they need our help. Together with Bilt, we’re going to help cover off-campus housing costs.”
Additionally, to coincide with the release of Legend’s new studio album, “Muse,” on Oct. 23, Bilt members have the chance to win free rent through his participation in its monthly game show Rent Free; to win a member-exclusive vinyl copy of “Muse”; and to attend a private John Legend show on Oct. 21 in San Francisco.