Now that summer is right around the corner, most people are already getting ready for keeping the heat at bay. The need for air conditioners and cooling appliances are high at this time of the year.
While most residents in Arizona are preparing for the summer heat and how to enjoy their vacations under the sun, there are also some people whose health are at risk because they do not have a home to stay in during the blistering summer. It is quite unfortunate, but this is a reality that happens in the world today.
When Liza Kurtz, a Ph.D. student, moved to her house in Arizona, the house was not completely empty.
She arrived at the house to find a couple without a home, living on her porch. According to the couple, the previous owner allowed them to stay at the porch, but informed them that when the new owner arrives, they will indeed be asked to move out.
“They said when the new owner comes in, they’ll probably ask you to move on,” Kurtz told KPHO.
Unexpectedly, Liza did not allow them to leave her property and live out there, in the blistering summer heat.
“Of course we’re not going to move you on when the next place you go is a stretch of concrete with no shade, when the summer is coming on and things are heating up. It really is a health and safety issue in a lot of ways,” the PhD student said.
As someone whose work is related to health and heat, Liza was quite concerned for the couple’s health and safety if she allowed them to stay outdoors when the temperature is too high. She ultimately permitted them to live on her porch even after moving into the property.
In order to beat the heat, the couple had to put a tarp on the porch.
Liza understood this, but it was unfortunately a violation. City officials issued Liza a notice of ordinance violation because of the tarp.
“And it was just saying, visible tarps are against ordinance and that it needs to be removed,” she said.
The Ph.D. student was quite surprised at the ordinance violation she received. On the other hand, she also knew that the Phoenix city officials are just doing their job to follow ordinances.
And because of her work, Liza also knew that the city is doing its part in solving the homeless problem.
Instead of giving a negative reaction to the notice she received, Liza decided to take another approach.
“I was literally like, OK, there’s these two separate systems that are interacting and touching and they’re in conflict with one another, what can we do to resolve that and get on the same page?” she said.
Liza reached out to the city government and explained the case. Her efforts were acknowledged by the city government thru a statement to KPHO.
“This property owner has shown initiative and compassion, and we believe that by working together the violations can be addressed without the need to issue a citation,” City of Phoenix said.
Liza’s efforts propelled the city officials to pay attention to the couple which led to them having job interviews.
“That’s really only been able to happen because they have somewhere to shower, they have somewhere to go laundry, they have a safe place to leave their stuff that’s not on the street and it’ll be there when they get back. Sometimes all people need is that little respite, that little nudge,” Liza said.
And true enough, with a small act of kindness and compassion, people’s lives can change for the better, just like what happened to this couple’s lives after receiving help from a concerned citizen in the person of Liza.
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