Singer Jewel has thrown her support behind a public housing campaign by penning a song for the initiative.

The ReThink ambassador, who once lived in her car before finding success, has teamed up with organisers at the foundation to help raise awareness of the benefits of public housing through her song Why Housing Matters.

The Foolish Games hitmaker is asking Americans to submit short essays describing why home matters to them as part of a contest to help her draw inspiration for the single.

She says, "I'm so honoured to have the opportunity to continue to work with ReThink to raise awareness for people who may not have a stable place to live. ReThink is an important initiative that inspires people to think differently about the importance of home.

"I'm truly looking forward to gathering perspectives and inspiration about what your home means to you (through the essay contest), and turning it into a song that I hope will help shed light on this important cause."