Halsey delivered a powerful speech at the Ending Youth Homelessness: A Benefit for My Friend’s Place gala. In the speech, she revealed how she considered resorting to prostitution in the times when she was most desperate for basic needs, like a meal or a place to stay. 

She told the crowd, “It wasn’t because I did something bad. It wasn’t because something was wrong with me, and it wasn’t because my parents didn’t love me – because they did very much,” and continued, “But a series of unfortunate circumstances lead me to be in that position, and it can happen to absolutely anyone.”

The singer continued to describe her experience breaking into the music industry, meeting Jeremy Vuernick of Capitol Music Group. She stated to the crowd, “When I met him, I had crazy hair, I had one demo in my pocket and I was carrying a gray duffel bag,” and continued, “Sat down in his office, at his cubicle, and he asked me, ‘What’s in the bag?’ I looked him dead in the eyes and I said, ‘This is my house.'”

Halsey’s speech was reminiscent of a 2016 interview she gave with Rolling Stone, where she described being kicked out of her house at only nineteen, broke and facing the dangers of the streets of New York City, even recalling one time that she bought a four pack of Red Bull energy drinks just to stay up overnight so she would not have to expose herself to the threats of rape and kidnapping while asleep.