Multnomah County, Move-In Multnomah

Move-In Multnomah is a housing stability initiative led by Multnomah County, designed to accelerate placements by partnering with landlords, property owners, and developers. The program focuses on removing barriers and creating pathways into stable, long-term housing for people transitioning out of homelessness.

To support this effort, we created a series of documentary-style housing stability videos centered on the people behind the program: those navigating housing for the first time, and those helping make it possible.

The Challenge

Housing access is often discussed in systems, policies, and numbers, but rarely through the lived experiences of the people it directly impacts.

Multnomah County needed a way to communicate how the program actually works, while also building trust with two key audiences:

• Landlords and property owners considering participation
• Community members seeking to better understand housing solutions

The challenge was to create a story that felt honest and grounded, one that could clarify the program without oversimplifying the complexity of housing and homelessness.

The Approach

We approached the project through a series of human-centered profiles, shaping each piece as a housing stability video grounded in lived experience, including a film featuring Portland property owner Kevin Cavanaugh, who offers a firsthand perspective on participating in the program.

Rather than positioning landlords as abstract partners, Kevin’s story brings visibility to the decision-making process: why he chose to participate, what support he received, and how his perspective evolved over time.

Alongside participant stories, his voice helps create a more complete picture of how Move-In Multnomah functions in practice, from both sides of the housing equation.

Building Trust Through Real Stories

At the heart of the series is a simple idea: trust is built through understanding.

Each film is designed to make the process visible, showing how housing placements happen, what support looks like in practice, and how collaboration between individuals and systems leads to long-term stability.

By focusing on personal experience, the work helps shift perception from abstract challenges to real, human outcomes. It creates space for viewers to see both the need and the possibility.

Production & Collaboration

We filmed across multiple locations throughout Portland, Oregon, working closely with program participants, staff, and community partners.

A small, unobtrusive crew allowed for a flexible and respectful production environment, creating space for honest conversations and natural interactions. Collaboration with Multnomah County ensured the stories remained accurate and representative without feeling overly directed or scripted.

Clean pacing, restrained editing, and intentional use of voice and visuals help the stories land without overproduction.

Post-Production & Campaign Assets

In post, the focus was on clarity and accessibility.

We developed the series into a robust set of campaign assets designed to meet a range of communication needs. In total, we produced 15 videos, creating a flexible library of housing stability video content designed for multiple audiences and platforms, including five distinct profile pieces alongside a mix of 60-second, 30-second, and 15-second cutdowns.

In addition to the profile-driven content, we created broader messaging-focused videos centered on themes like supportive housing and program overview, helping provide context and clarity for audiences less familiar with the system.

Each piece was designed to stand on its own while contributing to a larger narrative around housing stability. The final deliverables were built for flexibility, supporting use across web, presentations, community outreach, and digital campaigns.

Clean pacing, restrained editing, and intentional use of voice and visuals help the stories land without overproduction.

Public Messaging for Housing Stability Understanding

Housing and homelessness are complex, often misunderstood issues.

These films were built to support informed understanding, offering a transparent look at how housing stability programs like Move-In Multnomah function in real life.

Campaign Reach & Flexibility

The campaign was designed to meet audiences where they are. From short-form digital placements to longer-form storytelling pieces, the videos were built to function across multiple touchpoints.

Shorter cutdowns allowed for quick engagement across social platforms, while longer pieces provided deeper context for presentations, partner outreach, and community education. This flexible approach ensured that the housing stability video content could adapt to different audiences without losing clarity or intent.

The Outcome

The final series provided Multnomah County with a set of grounded, human-centered housing stability videos to support outreach, education, and community engagement.

More than an overview of a program, the work offers a clear, accessible window into how housing stability is built through partnership, trust, and consistent support.

This work is part of our broader Public Interest & Civic Impact portfolio and our ongoing collaborations with public sector partners.

Client: Multnomah County
Project: Move-In Multnomah
Industry: Public Interest / Housing & Homelessness
Location: Portland, Oregon
Services: Documentary-Style Video, Public Sector Storytelling, Production, Post-Production