Holy Landlord!

Where I live (New York City), landlords and tenants don't often find themselves working together. More often than not, in fact, we find ourselves on opposite sides, battling over violations of rent stabilization laws or months of unpaid rent. And that's why this story reported by HeraldOnline.com out of South Carolina has me craving some Southern hospitality.

Ed Peirce, a former business owner and one-time stock broker who now lives in a town called Rock Hill, S.C., was planning on supporting himself on the rental income from two properties he owned in West Virginia after selling his business to move closer to his daughter. For a while, the plan worked well. One house was occupied by a husband and wife with two little kids; the other by a couple with a new baby. Both paid their rent on time.

But when the economy soured, Peirce's two single-income families were hit by cutbacks. One of the men lost his job in construction (an industry hit especially hard in this downturn) and the other lost his work as a utilities contractor. But, Peirce (a devout Christian and ordained minister) couldn't fathom punishing the families for falling on hard times.

So what did he do? He took on a job at his local Walgreens. For $8.50 an hour, Peirce now works the 2 to 10 p.m. shift in the pharmacy's photo department to help pay the bills on the properties -- and essentially cover his tenants' rent.

“These are stand-up guys. Family men. Proud. They paid me before, when they were working. You don't show your faith, your Christianity, in words. You do it in deeds," Peirce told the Herald.

Now that's something you'll never hear from an NYC landlord.

And that's not all. Peirce is known in his community as a generous spirit. Lately, he's been growing out his grey hair so he can donate it to Locks of Love, a charity for children suffering long-term medical hair loss. He also collects donations from customers to pass on to a local children's home. And he does it all without a complaint and without an agenda. He doesn't even believe in organized religion -- so there's no paternalism in his actions, just good deeds.

What's that line from Matthew -- "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works"? That's a lotta good work for one man and much needed in these times.

Photo courtesy of KO Art and Design via Flickr.