Missy Elliott is giving back to her hometown in a huge way. The Supa Dupa Fly artist returned to her Portsmouth, Virginia home to donate $50,000 to the Portsmouth Redevelopment and Housing Authority per a report by the Virginian-Pilot.
Alisa Winston, the executive director of PRHA, shared that the money would be allocated to the past-due rents of 26 families, thus helping them stay in their homes. The announcement was made at the Dr. O. Marriner Family Life Center at Grove Church, the Portsmouth’s oldest African American Baptist church.
“Instead of it being a celebration of Missy Elliott, you know about me, I wanted to give back and let that be the celebration of Missy Elliott, just to show that I love everybody out here,” Elliott said during a ceremony celebrating the anniversary of her street dedication.
In 2022, the superstar was honored with Missy Elliott Blvd in the town to recognize her considerable cultural impact.
The donation comes at a time when families across country is grappling with rising living costs.
For instance, the number of people choosing to share households to save money—reached a high that hadn’t been hit since 1971. Per a previous ESSENCE report, a recent Pew Research survey found that 18% of the population has moved in with relatives in the last few years, and show no signs of slowing down. according to a survey.
More than half of the adult children who reported living with their parents said it benefits them financially. Another 30% reported they don’t pay major bills like rent or mortgage, which helps offset any debt repayment they may have. Additionally, Bloomberg pointed out that a Credit Karma survey reported that 29% of 18 and 25-year-olds are at home with family and have no plans to move out anytime soon.