Halsey

Born Ashley Nicolette Frangipane, Halsey is no stranger to talking about mental health. The singer-songwriter has written songs about her own experiences with bipolar disorder, having named her latest album “Manic,” a nod to the manic state often experienced by those with bipolar disorder. She is also an activist for homeless people, a struggle she knows all too well.

In an interview with TIME magazine, Halsey opened up about her past, specifically about her home - or lack thereof. As a child, Halsey’s parents moved frequently, and she attended six schools by the time she was a teenager. She says that this has made it a challenge for her to understand what home means to her or find friendship because, in her words, “I’m used to ­packing up and leaving, to condensing myself into a digestible version because people don't have much time to get to know me." After dropping out of college, Halsey became homeless, often couchsurfing in a friend’s house. 

Halsey has stated that she gets solace from her fans, saying “I’m not just some... martyr who’s trying to make all of these lost, misfit kids feel better; I need them to help me feel normal too.”  She also has expressed joy that she now has friends and family living with her, feeling that she has brought her loved ones along with her to the next chapter of her life.

Halsey’s interviews show how a person can struggle to find home or to discover what home means to them. The answers can take a long time to find and vary from person to person.  Halsey’s openness about her past reminds us that we can find home in a diverse array of sources, from blood relatives you live with for years, to friends you stay with for a few weeks, to fans cheering you on and showing their support.