I am Derrick Benton, the director and producer of The House That Love Built.

In the winter of 1984, my grandparents, Emuel and Shirley Benton, and their five children found themselves locked out of public housing, living out of a rusted station wagon on the streets of Brooklyn, NY.

They refused welfare. They refused handouts. Instead, they got to work: scavenging scrap wood, salvaged doors, and broken bricks, hammering together hope and building a home that became a quiet legend in the neighborhood.

This is more than a story.

It’s a Brooklyn documentary born of grit, grace, and stubborn love. A true account of homelessness in NYC during the 1980s housing crisis, as told by their grandson, by F.R.E.E. Studios, and by the community that raised them.

We are community-powered and impact-focused: This film has been built just like the house at the heart of this documentary was: with resourcefulness, public access media, donated time, and the support of neighbors.

At its core, this is a story about dignity, resilience, and the systems that still fail families like mine; and yours.

Our Goal: $5,000

To finish this cultural documentary with the care it deserves, we need funding for:

Every dollar helps us bring this story to light, and into the world.

How You Can Support:

Even $5 helps push this forward. If you can give, donate what you can and share this page with others who value legacy and justice. As a thank you for your support, we would be happy to honor you with a Thank You credit at the end of the film (unless you donate anonymously).

If you can’t donate right now:

Follow along on social media to stay up-to-date on behind the scenes footage, learn more about the Benton family, and drop a comment about how this story impacts you!

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Every share, comment, and interaction boosts visibility, and tells the GoFundMe algorithm this story matters.

About F.R.E.E. Studios

F.R.E.E. Studios (also known as Filming Real Emotional Experiences, LLC) is a Brooklyn-based creative studio committed to emotionally rich, culturally rooted storytelling.

We’re not just creating films.

We’re building a body of work that captures community truth, challenges silence, and reshapes the cultural conversation.

Our past work has:

✔️ Raised over $47,000 through grants and fundraising

✔️ Screened at national and international film festivals

✔️ Built bridges between local stories and global audiences

Some of our past awards include:

This documentary is just one part of the legacy we’re constructing: story by story, voice by voice.

The House That Love Built is co-directed by Anthony Jay Van Dunk, and co-produced by Ahwaaleew Stories. Find more about them here.

Let’s build The House That Love Built together.