This material is designed to help partners, advocates, and community leaders communicate a clear and compelling case for equitable homeownership. It can be adapted for presentations, community conversations, fundraising efforts, policy discussions, and stakeholder engagement to inspire action and build support for community-driven housing solutions. These materials were developed by/with TheCaseMade. Learn more about Strategic CaseMaking at www.thecasemade.com.
Resource Category: Tools & Tips
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ADU Sprint Final Report
The 2025 ADU Support Sprint report summarizes collaborative work on expanding accessory dwelling units (ADUs) in Franklin County. It brings together findings from education, policy, finance, and design teams — including research, pilot projects, cost estimates, zoning analysis, and financing barriers and opportunities. It can serve as a framework for structuring multi-stakeholder “sprint” processes, capturing outcomes, and translating community collaboration into actionable housing strategies. Read the ADU Sprint: Accelerating Accessory Dwelling Unit Development in Columbus case study for more information.
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Bloom ADU Infographic
This infographic explains accessory dwelling units (ADUs) — small secondary homes like backyard or garage apartments built on the same lot as a primary residence — along with their uses, costs, and permitting considerations. It also provides financing options such as renovation loans and HELOCs to help homeowners understand how ADUs can be funded. It was used as a simple homeowner-facing tool to educate what ADUs are and clearly outline the steps, requirements, and resources needed to plan and build one. Read the ADU Sprint: Accelerating Accessory Dwelling Unit Development in Columbus case study for more information.
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CONVERGENCE Memphis Land Expo 2026 Flyer
The CONVERGENCE Memphis 2026 Land Expo was a convening for real estate professionals focused on land acquisition and housing development in Memphis. When replicating this type of event, flyers can be used to clearly communicate the purpose, highlight key learning and networking opportunities, and attract stakeholders interested in land, financing, and affordable housing development. Read the Memphis Land Expo: Connecting Developers to Land in Priority Neighborhoods case study in the Solutions in Action section for more information.
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CONVERGENCE Memphis Land Expo 2026 Sponsorship
Sponsorship opportunities supported the CONVERGENCE Memphis Land Expo by engaging partners at varying investment levels in exchange for visibility and participation benefits. When replicating this type of event, sponsorship structures can be used to offset event costs while building partner buy-in through tiered benefits such as promotion, vendor space, and speaking opportunities. Read the Memphis Land Expo: Connecting Developers to Land in Priority Neighborhoods case study in the Solutions in Action section for more information.
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Photo and Video Tips for Events
Tips for Taking Great Event Photos with Your Phone
1. Clean your lens!
Wipe your phone’s camera lens with a soft cloth or your shirt to remove smudges—it makes a huge difference in photo clarity.
2. Use natural light when possible
Stand near windows or in well-lit areas. Avoid harsh overhead lighting or direct sunlight that can cast shadows on faces.
3. Focus on faces and expressions
Capture candid moments of people talking, laughing, or engaging with the event. Aim for natural interaction over posed shots.
4. Get a mix of wide and close-up shots
Wide shots: Capture the full room, stage, or activity.
Close-ups: Focus on people, hands-on moments, or speaker expressions.5. Avoid zooming in
Move closer instead of using digital zoom—it keeps the photo quality sharp.
6. Keep your camera steady
Hold your phone with both hands or rest your arms on a table for sharper images.
7. Take both horizontal and vertical photos
Horizontal (landscape): Great for group shots and wide angles.
Vertical (portrait): Ideal for social media stories or posters.8. Turn off flash unless absolutely necessary
Flash can wash out faces and make photos look artificial. Use it only in very low light.
9. Capture signage, materials, and context
Get a few shots of banners, handouts, or anything that helps tell the story of the event.
10. Don’t forget group shots
Ask a fellow attendee to snap a photo of your group, or offer to take one for others—it helps capture who was in the room.
Tips for Taking Great Event Videos with Your Phone
1. Hold your phone steady
Use both hands to stabilize your phone. You can also lean your arms on a table or wall to avoid shaky footage.
2. Record horizontally
Unless you’re capturing for Instagram Stories or TikTok, horizontal (landscape) video is better for general sharing, presentations, and websites.
3. Keep clips short and focused (10–30 seconds)
Capture key moments—like a speaker’s quote, an attendee interaction, or a walk-through of the room. Short clips are easier to edit and share.
4. Get close, don’t zoom
Move physically closer instead of using digital zoom to keep video quality high and audio clear.
5. Capture natural sound
Avoid speaking while filming unless you’re narrating intentionally. Record crowd noise, applause, or natural conversation for added context.
6. Frame your subject well
Keep the speaker or subject in the center or slightly off-center using the rule of thirds. Leave space around them—don’t crop too tightly.
7. Watch your lighting
Film in well-lit areas. Avoid filming with bright windows or lights behind your subject, which causes silhouettes.
8. Record transitions and movement
Film someone walking into the room, people arriving, or attendees engaging with materials. These “b-roll” moments are great for recap videos.
9. Avoid distractions in the background
Before you hit record, glance around—move if needed to avoid clutter or distracting elements behind your subject.
10. Respect the moment
Be discreet. If someone is having a sensitive conversation or doesn’t want to be filmed, always ask permission first.
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Experian Resources for Housing Practitioners
Experian offers practical tools and research resources designed to help housing professionals navigate today’s complex housing landscape and better serve borrowers and communities.
Reports
Blogs
- Navigating the 2026 Housing Landscape
- Addressing Where Renters Struggle Most
- Browse All Experian Housing Blogs
White Paper
Resource Centers
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MBA Webinars and Podcasts: CONVERGENCE Learning Resources
Webinars
“CONVERGENCE: A Case for Change”
CONVERGENCE leaders discuss emerging challenges in housing affordability, share updates on projects from city programs, and spotlight scaling strategies showing early promise. Watch recordingPodcasts
How CONVERGENCE is Expanding Homeownership in Central Ohio and Nationwide
National Housing Conference President and CEO David Dworkin talks with Wendy Penn, Vice President of Affordable Housing Initiatives at the Mortgage Bankers Association, and Anna Teye-Kasongo, Assistant Executive Director at the Affordable Housing Alliance of Central Ohio, about CONVERGENCE — MBA’s initiative to expand homeownership by leveraging the collective strength of community partners. Penn shares how the initiative is advancing collaboration and solutions at the national level, while Teye-Kasongo discusses how those efforts are playing out locally in Central Ohio.
How CONVERGENCE is expanding homeownership in Central Ohio and nationwide | National Housing ConferenceVideos
Columbus CONVERGENCE Launch Press Conference
Features local leaders, nonprofit partners, and housing advocates united in a shared vision for expanding affordable housing and closing opportunity gaps. Watch on YouTubeColumbus: Maude Hill Community Story
Community voices, neighborhood priorities, and the role of CONVERGENCE in supporting local housing goals in Maude Hill, Columbus. Watch on YouTubeMemphis and ALTA: Good Deeds Foundation Partnership
ALTA’s Good Deeds Foundation steps up in support of CONVERGENCE Memphis, strengthening local housing efforts and bolstering resources for affordable housing. Watch on YouTube -
NAR Practitioner Resources for Housing Practitioner
The National Association of REALTORS® provides practical guides, tools, and policy resources for housing professionals working to expand homeownership access. The following resources are organized to support practitioners across the four CONVERGENCE gap areas.
For Practitioners Working on the Information Gap
For Practitioners Working on the Trust Gap
For Practitioners Working on the Market Gap
For Practitioners Working on the Resource Gap