An outraged Florida county commissioner is calling for an investigation to see if a local homeless charity violated federal labor laws by having its poverty-stricken members work different jobs without pay in exchange for shelter.
Hillsborough County Commissioner Kevin Beckner said he would contact local lawmakers this week to initiate an investigation into the charity New Beginnings of Tampa, which according to The Tampa Bay Times sends homeless people to work at hockey games, construction and telemarketing jobs among others in exchange for donations from the businesses.
New Beginnings would in turn provide the unpaid workers with shelter and food, a practice condemned by homeless rights activists and which Beckner called "legal human trafficking."
"We have a responsibility to address allegations to make sure individuals aren't being exploited," Beckner told the newspaper.
One hockey team, Tampa Bay Lightning, confirmed New Beginnings sent residents to work at nearly 100 events at Amalie Arena from 2011 until April 2013, the newspaper reported. In February 2013, the team donated $50,000 to the charity.
Tampa Bay Lightning ended its relationship with New Beginnings, founded by CEO Tom Atchison, in April "because of reliability and consistency concerns," a spokesman told The Times.
Another business, concessions company Centerplate, gave donations to the charity in exchange for workers sent to games. Centerplate said its policy prohibits using volunteers that are reliant on their charities for shelter and that it will evaluate its relationship with New Beginnings.
Atchison released a statement Tuesday denouncing The Times' article as a complete lie. He said the program is voluntary, and only residents who have reached a higher level of their "work therapy" program are allowed to do so.
"We don't use homeless or the clients that are in our Emergency Shelter for sporting events," said Atchison, who is also the pastor of New Life Pentecostal Church.
"Additionally, we have not received any grant money for federal funding in over six years.
"We have been able to feed and minister to well over 200 people daily that visit the compound at East Chilkoot Avenue and our Mission at North Nebraska Avenue," the 61-year-old pastor said.
In the meantime, Atchison has also been checked out for alleged questionable activity.
All incoming mail for residents is sent to Atchison's office, including Social Security checks, which he deposits into the charity's bank accounts, The Times reported.
Police have received complaints from residents and New Beginnings employees that Atchison pocketed more than the $150 needed for weekly program fees. Atchison denies the accusations and no charges have been filed against him.
Last month, Hillsborough County denied New Beginnings a $64,000 federal grant due to "inadequate...internal controls" over residents' income, according to a Nov. 17 letter sent to Atchison from county Affordable Housing Services, the newspaper reported.
The county also denied Atchison's attempt to run the county's new homeless shelter, citing the charity's "poor cash position" and excess debt, according to county records.
When asked about Beckner's demand for an investigation, Atchison told The Times, "Bring it on, man."
