Many things have changed in the last 18 months. Whether from the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic or the growing call for equality, the way we perceive the world around us is forever changed. We have become more resilient in the face of adversity and many businesses have made permanent changes.

One industry I keep mulling over is the housing rental market. A roof over one’s head is rather one of the essentials. Where we live fundamentally means something to us, practically and emotionally. Yet for years, rental housing has been struggled to meet renters where they are. Issues including for-profit mentality, unforgiving power dynamics, and a lack of innovation often stand in the way of a more humane approach to housing that all people deserve.

The concept of Circa was born over a year ago. We did not anticipate a pandemic, but we saw a need for inclusion and equity. We saw a need to give people more control over their financial lives - to be able to pay important bills, when they want, how they want. With almost half of Americans unable to sustain a $400 financial shock, we recognized that residents need better solutions.

In 2020, amidst a financial and health crisis, residents are increasingly in need of dignity and respect, driving property owners to recognize that the traditional rent collection model must change. Before this year, many people in America needed support, but now that need has become a requirement that property managers cannot ignore. With this motivation to shift a centuries-old industry-standard, property managers are more receptive to meeting residents' needs. That's why we built Circa. Our mission - to empower people by giving them the tools to live financially resilient lives - is needed more today than ever before. Now is the time!

This is a moment of profound grief that requires intense reflection. At EppoPay, we grieve for every Black and Brown life that has been taken due to senseless violence and racism. We also grieve for the pervasive damage that systemic racism has done to our Black communities. Racism is toxic; when it poisons some of us, it poisons all of us. On behalf of the entire EppoPay team, I am proud to unequivocally state that Black Lives Matter, today and every day.

It turns out that stable housing is one of the most important predictors of almost everything else: financial, physical and mental health. It predicts likelihood of getting or keeping a job and is the foundation of our communities. At its core, the Circa landlord/renter product transforms the rent-collection model. The financial structure of the product is good for both landlords and renters. The relationship and two-way communication is central to the concept. And payment smoothing allows renters to have more payment flexibility in response to increasing income volatility. Circa does not solve our deeper economic problems. But, the solutions we offer are needed now more than ever.

In this stay-at-home-world, travel has stopped, and yet the noise of the media streams by at break-neck speed. It's April and I want to send warmth and love. My message is simple. Stay well, reach out to those you love or anyone in need of support. And, know that the EppoPay team understands that there is no better time than now to be building a system to help people pay their bills.

It’s been a tough month all around the world. Tensions are high as the news of Covid-19 and economic risk is updated in an unending stream. Like others, I think about my friends and family. I also think and worry about most Americans who can’t sustain a financial shock. For our families and EppoPay, it’s time to hunker down. Though it’s hard to concentrate with the cacophony of news, it’s even more important. Hunkering down for us means work - the hard work of building EppoPay. What does that mean? We’re tackling the details like building wireframes, use-cases, back-end tech, code, copy and communications. Less talk, more work.