Couple Sells House Given to Them to Live in After Katrina

[Alladin]

Tennessee Church Members Upset After Couple Sells House Given to Them to Live in After Katrina


11-22-2006 2:46 AM
By WOODY BAIRD, Associated Press Writer

MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- A church that wanted to do something special for Hurricane Katrina victims gave a $75,000 house, free and clear, to a couple who said they were left homeless by the storm. But the couple turned around and sold the place without ever moving in, and went back to New Orleans.

"Take it up with God," an unrepentant Joshua Thompson told a TV reporter after it was learned that he and the woman he identified as his wife had flipped the home for $88,000.

Church members said they feel their generosity was abused by scam artists. They are no longer even sure that the couple were left homeless by Katrina or that they were a couple at all.

"They came in humble like they really needed a new start, and our hearts went out to them," said Jean Phillips, a real estate agent and member of the Temple of Deliverance Church of God in Christ. "They actually begged for the home."

The church was also shocked by an ungrateful interview the couple gave with WHBQ-TV in Memphis.

"I really don't like this area," said Delores Thompson. "I really didn't, and I didn't know anybody, so that's why I didn't move in and I sold it."

Thompson, reached at a New Orleans phone number by The Associated Press on Tuesday, thanked the church for its generosity but said she saw nothing wrong in selling the three-bedroom, two-bath house.

"Do I have any legal problems? What do you mean? The house was given to me," she said. "I have the paperwork and everything."

She refused further comment and hung up.

The church had decided that it would do something special for one Katrina-displaced family, in addition to its other efforts to help evacuees. The church set up a committee to find the right family and conducted several dozen interviews.

Delores Thompson, who did most of the talking for her family, told the committee that she had lost her job as a nurse and that her husband had lost an import-export business in New Orleans, committee member Joy Covington said.

The committee also heard how the family had lost its home and most of its possessions and how the children, a 14-year-old girl and 16-year-old boy, were eager to get back in school. The family said it wanted to resettle in Memphis.

After the church settled on Thompson, real estate agent Phillips helped her pick out the house she wanted, and it was bought in Thompson's name. She took possession in February and sold it in September.

Property transfer records for the resale list her as unmarried; the papers from the original sale list her as married.

"I feel like it was a sham or a ripoff," Covington said.

The church hasn't discussed legal action, but the members are upset because the house could have gone to a more needy family, Covington said.

Thompson claimed she and her family were living in an apartment supplied by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, but did not invite Phillips over during the house search.

"She didn't want me coming over there," Phillips said. "She'd say, `I'll meet you.'"

Covington's husband, Edward, said the family had been listed by FEMA as displaced. But he said the church took Thompson's word for it that their house was destroyed.

http://gulfcoast.cox.net/cci/newsnation ... atearticle

[LaPlaceFF]

That's just completely pathetic. I hope the church considers legal action against this family.

As a person affected by Katrina, I appreciate everyone that came here and helped us out. In the days after Katrina, I have seen relief workers come into our Wal-Mart. I even told some of them thanks.

I hope the actions of this family don't make the rest of the country think bad about us.

[MGC]

If the couple aquired the house under false pretense than perhaps the Church can find some relief under Tenn law, I hope so....MGC

[Aquawind]

THe church got scamed by scum. The proceeds should go elsewhere and those people should be going to court for crimal offenses. Even if they really were "victoms".

[JenBayles]

Yeah, they got scammed all right. But never forget that when you give anything as a gift, you surrender all rights to it and the receiver can do with it what they choose. I doubt the church will be able to do anything legally unless the terms of occupying the house were spelled out in the contract. What a shame. I'm sure there are plenty of other people who would have been ecstatic to have a home given to them scot-free, and used it appropriately in the spirit in which it was given. It might be a better idea in the future for the church to buy a house, and instead of giving away the asset, allow a family to simply have the use of it for a specified period of time or until they get back on their feet?

[Sean in New Orleans]

I think it is disgusting that these people did this...and trashy, as well.

[Dionne]

The pendulem swings both ways. Since Katrinas landfall I have personally witnessed incredible generosity. And at the same time there has been a breach in trust by some folks that take advantage of others.

Lets not forget ALL the volunteers that came south during our time of need.

[CajunMama]

The only consolation i get out of this is the old adage, "What goes around, comes around". Their day will come. I think what that couple did really stinks.