Howard Epstein of Phoenix on Life, Lessons & Legacy

We recently had the chance to connect with Howard Epstein and have shared our conversation below.

Howard, a huge thanks to you for investing the time to share your wisdom with those who are seeking it. We think it’s so important for us to share stories with our neighbors, friends and community because knowledge multiples when we share with each other. Let’s jump in: What are you most proud of building — that nobody sees?
I’m most proud of building the network of supporters in Arizona who are funding critically needed housing for the thousands of people in our state experiencing homelessness. What people don’t see is the sustained effort to share the Arizona Housing Fund message through emails, presentations, meetings, and phone calls. The Arizona Housing Fund exists because of the support of countless businesses and individuals who decided they care enough about their community and the people in it to make sure more housing is available for those who need it the most — seniors, veterans, single moms and kids, and people with mental or physical disabilities.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I am an executive with Bank of America and the founder of the Arizona Housing Fund. I founded the Arizona Housing Fund after decades of trying to solve the homeless crisis in Arizona. It became clear to me that the solution to homelessness was housing. And to get more housing, we need more funding. The Arizona Housing Fund is a private philanthropic effort to fund more permanent, supportive and emergency housing to help those experiencing homelessness get a fresh start and a path towards a better life.

Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
I had a conversation with a friend about my frustration with hitting a roadblock. Initially I had hoped to have legislation passed that would help fund more housing to solve Arizona’s homelessness crisis, however it became clear that was not going to happen. It was through this conversation that I realized I couldn’t give up. Where there was a will, there was a way, and while the solution might take a different shape than the one I had initially intended, I could use my passion and dedication to help bring others on board… to create an “all hands on deck” movement that would harness the philanthropic involvement of the private sector to achieve the same goal. I started with nothing more than an idea, but over the past 5+ years, I have been overwhelmed by the support and passion I have seen ignited in others. And I have great hope that this movement will continue to grow and we will achieve our very bold goals of ensuring that housing is available for the many people in our state who need it.

Do you remember a time someone truly listened to you?
When I began addressing large and small groups with my message about the Arizona Housing Fund, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I have been blown away by the way everybody I’ve spoken to has truly listened and internalized the message. Not only that, I have never met anyone who listened to my presentation and didn’t support the mission. It is because of this positive reception that we are making a difference.

I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
My close friends know that my family means everything to me.

Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: What are you doing today that won’t pay off for 7–10 years?
When I started the Arizona Housing Fund, I knew this would be an effort that would take time. My goal was and is to raise $100 million over the next 10-15 years to fund enough housing to end Arizona’s homelessness crisis. Our primary fundraising platform involves voluntary donations of $25 tied to the close of escrow when a property is sold. Our bold goal relies on widespread participation and getting everyone on board to ensure housing is available for Arizona’s most vulnerable.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://arizonahousingfund.org
• Instagram: @arizonahousingfund
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/howard-epstein-785191/
• Twitter: @arizonahousingfund
• Facebook: @arizonahousingfund

Image Credits
Arizona Housing Fund