Jeff Phair and Tim Rhea saw Channel 8’s news report about low-income families living with no heat during a cold spell and decided to do something about it.
Phair, chairman of the San Diego-based developer The Phair Co., and Rhea thought the county’s entire real estate community would be looked upon as slumlords, so they bought and delivered new heaters to two of the families shown on Channel 8’s segment.
“It caught my attention,” said Rhea, a partner in Phair Rhea Properties, the company’s apartment management arm. “I have four kids and the thought of kids living in an apartment with no heat was appalling.”
After meeting with Channel 8 reporter Gail Stewart, who did the original story, the two businessmen bought and delivered the heaters. The station aired a follow-up story on the company’s philanthropic move.
“We didn’t want the impression left that the majority of landlords are terrible to their tenants,” Rhea said. “There’s no denying that there are people out there who don’t pay attention to the needs of their tenants, but we don’t think that a majority of property owners in San Diego act that way.”
Rhea said he and Phair were prepared to pay for additional heaters, exterminations and paint supplies for the tenants, but were told the families’ landlords got more involved after the news broadcast.
The Phair Co. has owned and managed residential and commercial properties in traditionally low-income neighborhoods in San Diego for more than 20 years. According to company officials, it also gives financial support to Big Brothers and Big Sisters, Youth for Christ, YMCA, March of Dimes, Scripps Hospital, Vista Hill Hospital, the Boys & Girls Club and youth sports programs.
