Katrina Donation Flipped For Profit

'Take It Up With God!' Says Recipient Of Free House Donated By Church

(AP)  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."'

Church member Edward Covington, the real estate agent's husband, 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.

[dcmgbusacbs]

HOUSE RECIPIANTS AND PURCHASER ON GOD'S "TO DO" LIST

here is another gift that is being sold, right or wrong its for sale O.J Simpson If I did now sold on Ebay Item number: 250053281298 $10,000.00

$75,000.00 does not buy a whole lot of house, and its not like they broke the bank when they bought the place, the church is got lots of money, most do

[bigreddog222]

Katrina flushed the toilet of America into surrounding areas.

[nikkicatt1]

The night the Katrina evacuees were being bused to Houston, I had to volunteer. As the New Orleanians were coming off the buses, we heard over and over, "What, no beer?" or "That's all you got - a sandwich and chips?" or "I don't want water - I want pop." When we set up cots we heard "Ain't ya gonna put us in a hotel." When FEMA gave them credit cards, they were used to go to "night clubs", purchase big screen TV's or other items. A freind of mine that has a gun shop siad he had some trying to purchase guns with them. As the year progressed, we saw a rise in violent crimes. Now that the middle class is returning to New Orleans, we are left with the gangs, muggers and thieves. So why does anyone think that these miscreadents could do anything else but lie, cheat and steal to get what they did not deserve in the first place. If they were so worried about the crime in the area, why did they accept the house in the first place? Because they knew they were going to sell. I think ALL the people from Louisiana should go back and let the governer worry.

[peaceforusa]

WOW! How low can people get? This was such a wonderful gesture the church made and the couple they chose were scum. They must have been real slick when they had their interview. It is this kind of action that will cause many people, churches, companies, etc. to stop donating/helping when people are really in need.
It is true, it was a gift but the couple deceived the church in the interview to receive that gift, so I am hoping that on that deceit they will be charged and made to pay back the money to the church and maybe some jail time for fraud. God will take care of decritful people like this couple. And what an example they are setting for those children.

[bigreddog222]

Amen Oz.
the IRS will get them.. I hope. If someone reports them or if there is an agent reading this. They should pay their taxes.

[floriditynow]

The home was a gift. End of story. What the gifted does with the gift, is their karma.

[floriditynow]

The home was a gift. End of story. What the gifted does with the gift, is their karma.

[themooniac]

What classy people, scaming a church. How pitiful, the lowest of the low.