Church Gives House to Katrina Victims, Who Then Sell It and Leave

Church members of the Temple of Deliverance Church of God in Christ were touched by the stories of devastation and destruction in New Orleans, and their compassion made them decide to do something special to help. The church was already participating in numerous activities to help Katrina evacuees who had come up to Memphis, but they wanted to do more. They decided to help one Katrina-displaced family by giving them a new home.

The church established a committee to find just the right family. The committee searched and conducted interviews with several dozen evacuees. When the committee interviewed Delores Thompson, she told them that she had lost her nursing job, and her husband had lost an import-export business in New Orleans. According to committee member Joy Covington, Thompson also related to the committee how her children, a 14-year old girl and a 16-year old boy, were eager to return to school and the whole family was anxious to resettle and start their lives anew in Memphis.

Real estate agent Jean Phillips, a member of the church, helped Thompson pick out a house she wanted, and the church bought it in Thompson’s name. The papers were signed in February, with the church buying the $75,000 house and giving it to Thompson free and clear. "They came in humble like they really needed a new start, and our hearts went out to them," said Phillips. "They actually begged for the home."

But the couple—who it now seems may not even be married—never moved into the three-bedroom, two bath house. In September they sold the house for $88,000 and left town to head back to New Orleans. Although the papers from the original sale say Thompson is married, the transfer records for the resale list her as unmarried.

Church members say they feel shocked by their generosity being abused by scam artists, and they now wonder whether or not the couple were actually left homeless by Katrina. Thompson claimed during her interview that she and her family were living in a FEMA-supplied apartment, but she never invited Phillips to her apartment while they were searching for a house for her and her family. "She didn’t want me coming over there," Phillips said. "She’d say, ‘I’ll meet you.’" According to Covington’s husband, Edward, the family was listed by FEMA as being displaced, but the church just took Thompson’s word for it that their house had been destroyed and they could not return to it.

When the Associated Press contacted Thompson, she said that she appreciated the church’s generosity but she didn’t think there was anything wrong with her selling the house. "Do I have any legal problems? What do you mean?" she said. "The house was given to me. I have the paperwork and everything."

The icing on the cake came when the couple was interviewed by WHBQ-TV in Memphis and showed their true colors. "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." Her husband was even more unrepentant. "Take it up with God," he said.