When Stories Become Bridges: How Creative Content Helps Understand Homelessness

 Have you ever wondered why there are so many unhoused people across Portland, Oregon? Most of us have, because Portland’s homelessness crisis is constantly discussed in statistics, policy debates, local media, and everyday conversations. But the issue with this widespread attention is that it often minimizes the complexity of real human experiences. Curiosity alone can’t answer the deeper questions, only the people who have lived through homelessness can. One helpful initiative addressing the matter is the creative content produced by Welcome Home Coalition, a local network of organizations, advocates, and neighbors. The short film Finding Home: Portland's Homelessness Crisis from the People Who've Lived It, available online, reminds us that the most powerful understanding comes from listening directly to those with lived experience, showing how creative content can serve as a tool for public education and empathy. It’s also a form of justice, a shared space for storytelling, and one of the most meaningful ways creative content can contribute to social change.

When people experiencing homelessness tell their own stories, creative content becomes more than art. It becomes a form of justice. Film is not just entertainment, it’s a way to correct years of misrepresentation. Short films that highlight personal stories of people who have lived through homelessness can challenge misleading narratives that frame homelessness as a personal failure or a choice, rather than the result of systemic issues. Creative content reminds viewers that homelessness is not an identity, but a circumstance that can affect anyone at any point in life. By documenting lived experiences, creative content redistributes narrative power. It shifts the focus from assumptions to truth, from stereotypes to humanity. It connects the story to the viewer in a way statistics never can, giving visibility, dignity, and agency to people who are too often spoken about but rarely spoken with. Through the process of creative content, storytelling becomes a source to restore narratives and make space for understanding.

Film creates a shared emotional space where viewers can witness someone else’s reality with empathy rather than judgment. As an emerging local filmmaker, I’m absolutely sure the power of creative content can bring awareness to others. Once we get to know a new reality or way of living from a close perspective, we can shift our thoughts to listen to the people who don't have a voice or are trying to have a voice but no one is listening. As a filmmaker, I have the power to focus on social justice to help my local community. I can give voice to those who are unseen because film serves a bigger purpose than just entertainment. When we hear directly from people navigating Portland’s shelters, streets, and housing systems, we’re not just informed, we’re connected. Creative content invites the public into conversations they might otherwise avoid. It also opens a door to understanding, compassion, and collective responsibility. 

Creative content doesn’t just share individual stories, it reveals the larger systems that shape those stories. In this specific scenario for example, the short film Finding Home: Portland's Homelessness Crisis from the People Who've Lived It by Welcome Home Coalition is giving voice to local civilians who are trying to improve their lives but often find more difficulty connecting to resources. Through the short film lens, viewers see the structural systems at play that make it difficult for people to thrive. We now can understand the influence of housing costs, lack of mental health support, limited shelter capacity, and policies that fail to meet the needs of vulnerable populations. When these realities are shown through real people’s experiences, the viewers can understand homelessness not as an isolated event, but as the result of interconnected social issues. By making these systems visible, creative content encourages viewers to think beyond stereotypes and consider the broader context that leads someone to lose housing. 

As filmmakers and video artists, we hold a unique responsibility. We can use our craft to amplify voices, challenge stereotype narratives, and create space for community growth. Our cameras can document resilience, expose injustice, and build bridges between people who might never meet. Creative content doesn’t solve homelessness on its own, but it shapes the cultural climate that makes real solutions possible. Sharing personal experiences through storytelling influences public perception, policy conversations, and reminds the city that every person deserves to be seen and heard. This is why creative content can serve as a tool for public education and empathy. It can be a filmmaker's choice of social justice, and one of the most meaningful ways local organizations can contribute to social change.

By Larissa Eufrazio de Oliveira