Global “Ministries” Foundation
I read the headlines and immediately began researching. “New Orleans City Council Removes Tax-Exemptions for Another Neglected Apartment Complex.” Was the article about who I thought it was about? A long shot, sure. But when stink trails like a spraying skunk—”notorious,” “violent crime,” “dilapidated”—you have to think it might be a skunk.
First clue: the landlord at Parc Fontaine was the same one who owned the Willows, a complex the city unanimously stripped of its tax exemption beginning in tax year 2025. A prior loss of exempt status signified an organization with a history of neglected apartments, so that pointed where I thought it pointed.
Fifth paragraph, the bell rang. Both of the complexes that lost their property tax exemption were owned and operated by Tennessee-based Global Ministries Foundation.
I knew Global “Ministries” Foundation in Memphis. The organization lost its HUD status at a complex where my friend lived. At the time, CEO Richard Hamlet went on the “Christian” circuit to decry his persecution. He was doing God’s work, focusing on affordable housing. My friend had formed a tenants’ association, and she, a Christian, won that victory. In the NOLA article, Hamlet (who may now do business as Ministry Outreach Foundation; the articles use both names) did not respond to request for comment.
At the NOLA complex that lost its status, plaintiffs in 2023 sued Global “Ministries” Foundation for the deplorable conditions. Deplorable as in algae-infested pools, overflowing trash, and no security, which the article says Hamlet dismissed as “frivolous.” Multiple rapes occurred at the complex, including four in a two-week period. Hamlet blamed the problems on Hurricane Ida. Follow the chain of articles on Hamlet, you learn Jefferson Parish also revoked the tax-exempt status at a Metarie complex. These tax revocations are possible thanks to a recently-passed constitutional amendment allowing them.
In describing the New Orleans revocation, the President of the New Orleans City Council used the word “slumlord.” She found it especially appalling “this person” claimed to be a minister.
Don’t we all.
Mary Lowry
Good and troubling information. So CEO Hamlet is continuing his program under a slightly different name?
Ellen Morris Prewitt
Yes, that’s my impression. The latest article used Global Ministries Foundation, but earlier articles said he had changed the name to Ministries Outreach Foundation. I don’t know if they are still operating apartment complexes in the NOLA area or not–I get the impression not, because no other GMF/MOF complexes were ID’d in the articles. Interesting to me, the constitutional amendment requires that, if an or with its tax-exempt status revoked changes name, it must come back before the council to get the tax revocation lifted.
Joe Hawes
Good unvestigative journalism. Do you think this guy will be brought to justice?
Ellen Morris Prewitt
No. At one point I heard HUD had allowed them to run apartment complexes in Memphis again. It’s hard to tell from their website if and where they are running properties. They are very upfront about the real estate “management” being a funder for their “ministries” around the world.
Marie A Bailey
This Hamlet guy (really, his last name is Hamlet????) sounds as corrupt as the Orange Felon … and just as much a Christian. Times like this I wish I believed in Hell so I could at least have the satisfaction of believing that is where a person like Hamlet will wind up. But you know, he must not believe in Hell, otherwise, as a Christian, why would he behaving so badly?
Ellen Morris Prewitt
Ha, ha—I hadn’t thought about his “Hamlet” name. I don’t know if he’s corrupt, but he does exploit his “real estate” ventures for money for his “ministries,” with lots of his family on the payroll. And uses his “real estate ministry” to promote his idea of business ventures as an untapped ministry opportunity. And brags about hosting Bible studies at his properties…which residents say are uninhabitable. But no, not ashamed–he is very proud of his Christian footprint.
ps I’m thinking hard about you and this horrible hurricane. May protection be with you.