Pearl Jam announced Thursday (Oct. 4) that their recent Home Shows at Seattle’s Safeco Field on Aug. 8 and 10 had raised $10.8 million for area homelessness causes. The gigs — the band’s first hometown shows in five years — found the band teaming with more than 170 local businesses, philanthropic partners and individuals, who will help to distribute nearly $7.8 million to a variety of organizations in Seattle and King County who are fighting homelessness.
According to a statement from PJ, more than $1.3 million is being distributed to nonprofits selected by the band with guidance from an advisory group of experts
“From the start, we hoped businesses, foundations and individuals would see themselves in this work,” guitarist Stone Gossard said in a statement. “The Home Shows initiative is about bringing the issue of homelessness closer to all of us — increasing our understanding of a complex issue, our empathy for our neighbors experiencing homelessness, and our resolve for working together. We’re proud of what our city has done. Now we need to stay inspired. There’s a lot more to do.”
The four areas targeted for the funds include diversion (helping the homeless stay in housing and prevent them from entering the homeless system); outreach, engagement and support (providing the homeless with relevant services); system change (exploring new approaches to assisting the homeless); and housing (finding safe, stable housing for the homeless). The funds raised during the shows came from ticket and merchandise sales, as well as donations and money raised ($597,300) by participating local restaurants, businesses, merch sales and other sources.
Click here to see the full list of organizations benefiting from the Home Shows funds.