John Legend Helps Launch $850 Housing Grants for Students at Three HBCUs

John Legend is helping college students facing housing insecurity with a new rent-assistance initiative focused heavily on historically Black colleges and universities.

Legend partnered with Bilt and Scholarship America on a program providing housing assistance to 50 students.

The participating schools are Morehouse College, Central State University, Wilberforce University and Legend’s alma mater, the University of Pennsylvania.

Morehouse, Central State and Wilberforce are HBCUs.

Selected students will receive one-time, need-based awards of $850 to help cover off-campus housing expenses.

Applicants must be enrolled at one of the participating institutions, live off campus, receive need-based financial aid and be experiencing housing insecurity that could affect their ability to remain enrolled.

Legend has said the issue connects to his own college experience. While attending Penn, he lived off campus and worked multiple jobs, including work-study and a church position, to cover his rent and other expenses.

The initiative comes as housing costs have become an increasingly significant part of the financial burden facing college students.

Applications are scheduled to close Oct. 8 at 4 p.m. Eastern, or earlier if all available awards have already been distributed.