Minnesota Housing: A Short Documentary on Home and Hope
- bengarvin
- 7 days ago
- 1 min read
What an honor it was to learn about the history of Minnesota Housing and the vital work they do to help folks across the state find a place to live. It was especially inspiring to work alongside Commissioner Jennifer Ho — a leader who’s helped build a state agency that listens to everyone’s voice and ensures people feel seen and supported.
A couple of years ago, we produced a 45-minute documentary for Minnesota Housing highlighting the agency’s long-term impact on families and communities statewide. The film celebrates the dedicated staff members behind the mission, as well as the Minnesotans whose lives have changed because of their work.
Since then, I’ve continued collaborating with the team — including just yesterday, when I photographed hundreds of new staff portraits. I love this kind of work: helping people relax in front of the camera, lighting them like movie stars, and celebrating the humanity and pride behind public service.
Below: a looping GIF of some of my favorite portraits from that day.
Read more: Documentary Work | Photography & Portraits | About Ben Garvin
More Minnesota Stories
If you enjoyed this story, check out Finding Manoomin — another Minnesota-focused documentary project we created for MPR News. It explores the sacred connections between people, water, and the wild rice that defines so much of Minnesota’s identity.