MILWAUKEE — A new documentary is shining a spotlight on homelessness across the U.S., while highlighting communities that have put forward a significant effort at finding long-term solutions to solve it.

"I ran into a guy [in Indianapolis] who was running a homeless camp and he taught me all about homelessness," said Don Sawyer, who produced and directed "Beyond the Bridge: A Solution to Homelessness." "I didn't realize it was a systemic issue. I thought it was a problem of the individuals."

Set for a screening Thursday at Marquette University's Varsity Theatre, Sawyer said Milwaukee's excelling compared with other communities nationwide as it digs deep into a community-centered approach.

"In Milwaukee and Houston, they knitted the community together to work together," Sawyer said. "They got all the institutions where homelessness touches and sat down in a room and said, "We have to work together.""

Watch the full interview above.