Beyond compliance: The soul of Code Enforcement

Imagine the sweltering heat of Texas in June. Teardrops of sweat dripping from your chin and forehead during the quick getaway from your car to the inside of your home. For Ms. Bering, reaching the door and closing it behind her offered no reprieve. She had been living with nonworking A/C for nearly two weeks. Something a cold shower might offer relief from. But for her, it couldn’t. Among her mounting troubles, she was also living without running water and electricity in her home.

Ms. Bering had undoubtedly fallen on hard times. One day, a Fort Worth Code Compliance officer knocked on her door. Jeremiah Courtright had been working for the City for less than six months. He was there to investigate a complaint sent to him.

Ms. Bering had beads of sweat rolling down her face as she answered the door. Visibly frustrated, she explained how she had been living in deplorable conditions. How she had fallen on hard times and was reaching out to friends and family to seek help.

“She told me about her education and previous jobs. It was surprising to see her in that situation,” said Officer Courtright. He listened to her, wrote a notice for no running water and left the home. But his mind stayed there on Kristen Drive, with Ms. Bering.

He returned to the office with one thought lingering: What could he do to help a woman who desperately needed it?

It took several days and people guiding him through tedious processes, but Courtright eventually found what they were both looking for. Through the City of Fort Worth’s Neighborhood Services Department and Community Action Partners, he was able to connect Ms. Bering with the resources to restore electricity and water to her home.

He returned occasionally to bring her cold water. He also helped her fill out paperwork to request SNAP benefits so she could put food on the table for as long as she would need. But Courtright knew that wouldn’t be for long.

“To share with her the resources we have and see the whole thing unfold, it was amazing,” said Courtright.

Thanks to Officer Courtright’s dedication and Ms. Bering’s resilience, her circumstances have been turned around. She has since returned to the workforce and is teaching math at a Fort Worth middle school.

Sometimes, all people need is someone who cares enough to help them through what could be the most difficult time in their life. Ms. Bering says she now believes in angels. Here, we call those Code Compliance officers.

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