Today we’d like to introduce you to Howard Epstein.
Hi Howard, We are so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I’ve been working to address Arizona’s homelessness crisis by serving on nonprofit boards in the Valley for years. In 2019, I founded the Arizona Housing Fund to support the development of more permanent supportive housing units in the state. What is permanent supportive housing? It is housing designed to end homelessness by providing affordable rent based on household income. Supportive services are also offered to help residents with behavioral health, medical care, employment, and more. Inspired by the PetSmart Charities cash register roundup model, I established the Arizona Housing Fund as a voluntary private sector solution. We ask those in real estate transactions to donate $25 per closing. We also introduced the Lease Application Donation Program, where apartment owners donate $5 per lease application received, and residents can round up their rent or donate through their rent portal. Finally, direct donations can be made by individuals, companies, or foundations at arizonahousingfund.org. Since its inception, the fund has raised $2 million and granted $1.35 million to eight nonprofit housing projects, which will provide homes for hundreds of previously homeless Arizonans.
Let’s dig deeper into the story – has it been an easy path, and if not, what challenges have you overcome?
I initially aimed for legislation to add a $25 fee to home sales to help fund housing for the homeless, but I soon realized it was unlikely to pass. Instead of giving up, I spoke with supporters who encouraged me to establish the Arizona Housing Fund and make it a voluntary private-sector program. My friend Steve Hilton at Meritage Homes signed on right away. Since we started the fund in 2019, Meritage Homes has been asking their customers to donate $25 to the Arizona Housing Fund when they purchase a new home, and Meritage matches that contribution. We have since added dozens of new partners and have received over 5,000 individual donations from home builders, residential and commercial real estate brokerages, title companies, real estate agents, notaries, and home buyers and sellers.
I appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a real estate executive with Bank of America and the founder of the Arizona Housing Fund. When giving back, we should focus our energy on the fundamentals. Every single person deserves to have food and shelter. Still, a housing shortage, coupled with circumstances like disabilities, mental health challenges, and abuse, means thousands of households are ending up homeless. As a community, we must help ensure that families and individuals aren’t forced to be homeless because they can’t afford a home. We can achieve a lot if we do a little. I created the Arizona Housing Fund as the conduit to provide grant funding to Arizona nonprofits creating innovative housing solutions for those experiencing homelessness. And it is working! We have already granted $1.3 million to eight Arizona nonprofits for affordable housing projects. And in many cases, our grants have closed the gap to cover unexpected construction costs, helping these projects get across the finish line.
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
Thank my company, Bank of America, for supporting me and my work with the Arizona Housing Fund. Not only has BofA helped me get the word out about the fund, but they have also generously supported this initiative to address Arizona’s homelessness with a generous donation of $50,000. Other partners who have gone above and beyond with their support are the Arizona Community Foundation, Arizona Association of REALTORS, North & Co., Meritage Homes, NexMetro Communities, and so many others. You can see all our partners here: https://arizonahousingfund.org/our-partners/. Finally, thank my wife, Chris, for all her help with the Arizona Housing Fund. Her volunteered time and input have been critical in helping the fund get to where it is today.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://arizonahousingfund.org/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arizonahousingfund/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/arizonahousingfund
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/arizonahousingfund/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/azhousingfund
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@arizonahousingfund7757
Image Credits
Howard Epstein, Portrait Photo Credit: Claudia Johnstone
