Henrietta Hughes Given Home After Telling Obama She Was Homeless (VIDEO)

UPDATE 2/12: Henrietta Hughes and Chene Thompson talk about the new house Hughes is living in:

Henrietta Hughes appeared on CNN's American Morning Thursday with Chene Thompson, the woman who gave her a house to live in after Hughes told President Obama she was homeless at a Florida town hall Tuesday. Watch the video where Hughes gets emotional and Thompson explains what motivated her to lend a stranger her house.

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From 2/11

If you were paying attention to Obama's stimulus push yesterday it was hard to miss Henrietta Hughes, a woman on the verge of tears who asked the President to help her with an "urgent need": homelessness. After the Florida town hall where Hughes talked to Obama, a local Fort Myers paper says she was offered a home by State Representative Nick Thompson's wife.

Read more from the paper below and here. And watch the exchange between Hughes and Obama below the excerpt.

Henrietta Hughes was offered a home by Chene Thompson, wife of State Representative Nick Thompson, who heard the homeless woman's pleas for help to President Obama before a local and national crowd.

The house is in LaBelle, the first home Scere Thompson bought after law school. She told Hughes, "Just give me the opportunity to help you."

Comments

[mommasigma]

01:38 PM on 02/18/2009

If she was ANOTHER race, we would not be having this conversation of is she bilking the system. Give me a freaking break!

[jakedad]

11:00 AM on 02/16/2009

Yes her motive may have been political but the woman now has a place to live - so it is a good thing.

In regards to giving - Republicans/conservatives out give Democrats significantly even when factoring out those that give to religious organizations. Conservatives are very giving people, the media and the Democratic machine just wants the public to think they are not.

Republicans are not rich fat cats. I have read reports where Republicans do make slighly more on the average but it is definelty not like 2X or anyting outrageous, just 10% or so onaverage. As far as education both parties seem about equal. So maybe it's all those Dems going to those pricy liberal private schools and then working in industries that don't pay well - in that case whose fault is that for what degree they majored in or what industry they chose to work in? Libs you crack me up.

Conservative/Republicans give of their own accord and do not want to be forced to give through taxation. Liberals want to take our money and give it how they want - there is something terribly wrong with that .

Libs - start putting your money where you mouth is and then you can have a right to whine. Facts are Facts and this is just one unbiased account that backs me up.

http://philanthropy.com/free/articles/v19/i04/04001101.htm

[sherifffruitfly]

02:36 AM on 02/15/2009

Upkeep costs for homes are nontrivial. Hopefully she's up to it.

[nickdoyle]

10:03 PM on 02/14/2009

I am very sorry that you are not living the life you should, being a veteran and all. I really appreciate the service you have given to our country. President Obama did not give the homeless woman a place to live. Don't forget, he cannot give to everyone in need out of his own personal finances. Just as I cannot give to every sad story I see or hear. I am also very sorry that you cannot find it in your heart to feel compassion for anyone that is worse condition than you. You do have a place to call home even if you are not happy with it. It has been said,"I need a pair of shoes so bad, these are full of holes.
and then I saw a man that had no feet". Do try to appreciate the little that you think you have. I am sure someone wishes they had what you have. Just thinking out loud.

[jgsims]

06:53 PM on 02/14/2009

In May 2008, the Gallup polling organization asked 1,200 American adults about their giving patterns. People who called themselves "conservative" or "very conservative" made up 42% of the population surveyed, but gave 56% of the total charitable donations. In contrast, "liberal" or "very liberal" respondents were 29% of those polled but gave just 7% of donations.

[plantsman]

06:18 AM on 02/14/2009

It matters very little to which Party those involved belong; the important thing is that Ms. Hughes and her family were given assistance by concerned people of great humanity. This jockeying for credit is repugnant no matter from whence it springs.

[amerima]

05:09 PM on 02/13/2009

Please give credit where it is due! State Rep. Nick Thompson is a Republican and his wife was the person to offer Ms. Hughes a house. I don't care if Ms. Thompson is a registered, nuke toting communist. It still was a gracious, kind act of compassion. This is not an issue for a donkey or an elephant. This is an American issue. It is called homelessness, jobless, hopeless. Where is each of us in our acts of graciouness, kindness, and acts of compassion?

[amerima]

04:19 PM on 02/13/2009

With homelessness still a serious issue, why are we battering ministries, public services, or Ms. Hughes motives? If we seriously believe that government can solve all our problems, then homelessness is just the beginning. When are we going to accept the bitter pill that we are ALL in this together! When an agency or a generous person helps, they are looked upon with suspicion and public scrutiny. Are we our brother's keepers? We better decide before that decision is taken from us. Ms. Hughes should NOT be without a home! People should not be without jobs! Children should Not go hungry! As a nation, we should be held accountable. But where does it stop? How many "should nots" are you willing to pay for? How many "should nots" should come out of your check? How many "should nots" are you willing to bail out? Be careful...soon the "should nots" we see will be replaced with "cannot" help you-no money!

[Bail Me Out Now]

04:12 PM on 02/13/2009

Aw the poor homeless woman, I trully do no feel sorry for her. I live in substandard housing as a renter with no insulation in the walls, floors or sealing. In adiquate electrical wiring, I am a 100% percent disabled Vietnam Veteran with Crohn's disease and I cannot afford to buy a new house or move to a modern place. I do not see President Obama giving me 40 acres and mule with a house on it as well and I am Caucasian White!!!

[youngat80]

07:06 PM on 02/13/2009

Is there subsidized housing in your area? Check with the agency that is responsible for administering the housing for assistance. Google the web to learn what agencies in your area can help. The 40 acres and a mule went out with the Civil war about 150 years ago, but there are many public and private agencies that are able to assist you. The Salvation Army is one,
It has been my experience that the attitude of the applicant can sometimes influence the attitude of the person reviewing the application. It is not intentional, probably not even recognized, but it happens. I spent a lot of time over a 12 year period supervising volunteers working in family services for an international charitable organization. I tried to impress on the interviewers the need to forego 'first impressions' and remember that the clients did not choose to be in a position that required them to need help.

[soldiergirl]

10:33 PM on 02/14/2009

You don't feel any empathy for Ms. Hughes, but obviously think that someone should feel empathy for you. You know what? I do feel empathy for the both of you, and anyone else that is in either of your situations. I am a disabled veteran, and I did deploy to Iraq. There are many veterans that are living on the streets and in their cars. Hopefully, by the grace of God, someone will help them, too. Mrs. Thompson will be blessed for her act of kindness. She didn't have to do it, but she did it anyway. Bail, instead of feeling sorry for yourself and not seeing other people's pain, maybe you should check with your local housing authority and see if they can help you get into a decent home. I wish you luck and Godspeed.

[normalkid0615]

03:39 PM on 02/13/2009

you stupid people get all emotional, stupid sheeple I may say

[jhm1953]

07:52 PM on 02/13/2009

What an incredibly insensitive and callous response to a genuniely touching story. Time to crawl back under your rock.

[soldiergirl]

10:35 PM on 02/14/2009

Emotions don't make one stupid, lack of sensitivity does.

[colorperdaughter]

03:06 PM on 02/13/2009

It appears Obama did not do anything overt to help this lady and her son. An appropriate thing may have been for someone to offer both jobs, ... oh that is right, this area has one of the highest unemployment rates in the country, that is why he was there. They have a car, they could move. Someone offer them jobs somewhere!

[lenoirlady]

06:35 PM on 02/13/2009

This is a measure to fill the gap until the Mother and son can find work. There are now MILLIONS out there with no job. We just can't let them starve or remain on the streets living in cars if someone as gracious as the owner of a home offering them a loan house until they can get their stuff together. We have become a cold and heartless country if we can't see people in need and offer them aid if we have the where-with-all to do it.
Thanks to the Thompsons for their generosity. See Republicans have hearts. MANY of them do. It's just the insulated ones in DC that are out of step and out of touch. Throw their butt's out on the street with no money, food, clothing and maybe God could help by letting them have all those adversities and be black for 6 months. Fla. is in the racist south and it took nerve for the Thompsons to do this.

[soldiergirl]

10:39 PM on 02/14/2009

How are you going to find a job when you don't even have a place to live? Sometimes, by giving someone a hand up, they can then do the other things that they need to do. The Thompsons gave the Hughes a hand up, and I'm sure that they will now work on getting the jobs that they need. Most people aren't out of work because they want to be.

[kennydarter]

02:59 PM on 02/13/2009

how can people hate on this poor lady. It's possible, I guess...
http://hateonme.com

[bluedov69]

03:15 PM on 02/13/2009

Don't get me wrong but sometimes they have plants out there that will try to embarass the president by telling him a sob story about their life. For instance, 'Joe the Plumber' who claimed to make 250,000 a year and was starting a business supposedly. I hope this lady is legit but one never knows do one

[mauibob]

11:22 AM on 02/13/2009

She's a scammer of the system. In other words, a good member od the democrat party.

However, a local organization is coming forward saying Hughes isn't being honest about how much help she's had in the past.

The director of We Care Outreach Ministry, Tanya Johnson, says just last month she offered Henrietta Hughes permanent housing and a place to stay free for three months, but Hughes refused.

"We would have allowed her to stay for the first 90 days, no income. You know free," said Tanya Johnson.

We Care Outreach Ministry is a faith based organization in Fort Myers.

Johnson says she also gave Henrietta and her son Corey, money, food and offered Corey job training courses, but it was refused.

"We have extended a lot of her services to her," Johnson said.

http://www.winknews.com/news/local/39518252.html

[Cambridge9]

11:31 AM on 02/13/2009

WINK News sound so authentic!!

[solopico]

01:22 PM on 02/13/2009

WINK is a CBS affiliate in Ft. Meyers, FL.

Try goole search - it's amazing!

[wineandjazz]

12:23 PM on 02/13/2009

And simply for the fact of you exposing this, why should we believe you?

[Cambridge9]

11:12 AM on 02/13/2009

This kind of reminds me of the story about a woman whose house had been foreclosed and she went to the auction (in tears) to see who bought her house. Another woman at the auction bid and bought the house - and donated it back to the original owner. There really are such great people out there. If we all do a simple act of kindness, that kindness will mushroom and we will begin to like each other again.

[landstar]

12:39 PM on 02/13/2009

Private citizens & community assisting neighbors in need...not Obama/Democratic big government!!!!!

[evaesthetic]

01:37 PM on 02/13/2009

That only works for those who stumble into a high-profile spotlight. Otherwise, we wouldn't have a homeless problem at all, right?

[davibaby]

03:15 PM on 02/13/2009

SO, IS YOUR COMMENT A KUDO FOR THE GENEROUS AMERICAN SPIRIT OR A KNOCK AGAINST OUR PRESIDENT? WHICH IS IT?

[Johny dumpvalve]

10:38 AM on 02/13/2009

It's too bad this has been debunked and Henrietta and her son have been shown to be gaming the system for quite sometime now, taking advantage of the kindness of others.

This would have been a heartwarming story had the woman not been a con artist abusing welfare for decades now.

[Mike Sprinkel]

11:14 AM on 02/13/2009

What's your authority for this (i.e. news article, etc...)?

[mauibob]

11:21 AM on 02/13/2009

Here it is:

http://www.winknews.com/news/local/39518252.html

[sf girl]

01:12 PM on 02/13/2009

That's not proof of anything. Her side of the story is completely plausible. It's one person's word against another and just because you want the other person to be right doesn't make them so.