Eye Recommend --- Christian-Based Tampa Homeless Program Forces Destitute to Work for Free

Tom Atchison, CEO of New Beginnings

CHRISTIAN-BASED TAMPA HOMELESS PROGRAM FORCES DESTITUTE TO WORK FOR FREE, by Tom Boggioni --
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2014/11/christian-based-tampa-homeless-program-forces-destitute-to-work-for-free/

The investigation is not over, but it looks like another Christian-in-name-only has been found. (Any underlines are mine.)

"Christian-based Florida homeless program catering to recovering alcoholics and drug addicts has been accused of providing work crews to businesses and local events, then keeping their pay without them ever seeing it in exchange for room and board.

In an investigation conducted by the Tampa Bay Times, New Beginnings CEO Tom Atchison is accused of exploiting residents staying in his residences by farming them out as unpaid labor, including working concessions at Tampa Bay Rays, Lighting, and Bucs games, the Daytona 500 and the Florida State Fair.

Workers who put in a day of work are unaware of how much they are being paid for their labor since their paychecks go straight to Atchison and the shelter.

Atchison...claims to have a doctorate in theology he earned from a now defunct online school...

...For residents who are able to pay, New Beginnings charges $150 a week, or $600 a month, which covers rent and three meals per day.

The program's CEO calls the labor "work therapy," but advocates for the homeless and labor lawyers say it is exploitative, calling it "indentured servitude."...

...Former employees and residents of New Beginnings (say Atchison) is more concerned with the financial future of his program than with providing genuine help...

...Labor lawyers say companies may compensate employees with shelter and food but need to document hours worked and the value of the housing and meals provided in order to ensure workers earn at least the federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour.

According to Atchison, New Beginnings does not keep track of hours worked...

...According to former residents and staff, Atchison also takes residents' Social Security checks and food stamps, even if they amount to more than residents owe in program costs.

'He would say, "They're drug addicts, they're alcoholics, they're just going to spend it on cigarettes and booze,", said (former resident) Hoffman. "The only way they get any of it is if they complain hard enough."

Former employee Victoria Denton said, 'If a check comes in, it doesn't matter if it's your name...it's going in his (Atchison's) name.'"

In what book of the Bible did Mr. Atchison's "now defunct on-line school" find the verse that said exploiting the desperate is a virtue?