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N.C.-based charity held in contempt for violating solicitation order

Staff Report //November 25, 2019//

N.C.-based charity held in contempt for violating solicitation order

Staff Report //November 25, 2019//

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The S.C. Administrative Law Court has held Miracle House of Hope Ministries in contempt for violating an order barring the organization from soliciting in the state of South Carolina and issued a bench warrant for the arrest of CEO Bruce Little.

The contempt order was issued Nov. 4, according to a news release from Secretary of State Mark Hammond’s office, following a hearing that established the Charlotte-based charity was continuing to solicit in South Carolina. When the organization failed to comply with the contempt order, a bench warrant was issued for Little’s arrest on Nov. 20, Hammond’s office said.

“Miracle House of Hope is a rogue organization that has shown complete disregard for the financial transparency that South Carolina requires of charitable organizations,” Hammond said in the release. “Hopefully, this order of contempt and bench warrant will motivate Miracle House of Hope to come clean and let the people of South Carolina know what it is doing with their donations.”

On March 18, the court barred Miracle House of Hope from engaging in solicitation in South Carolina until it filed all required annual financial reports and registered under the Solicitation of Charitable Funds Act. The charity was also ordered to pay $10,000 in administrative fines. 

The contempt order noted 11 documented instances of the organization soliciting within South Carolina since being enjoined from doing so, including in Columbia, Greenville, Gaffney, Seneca, and Lancaster. 

Solicitors from the charity stand in intersections, approach drivers and hand out flyers, according to the release. The flyers say Miracle House of Hope assists people with addiction by providing room, board and “meaningful work within the ministry.”

“We brought this action following the receipt of numerous complaints from concerned citizens and with help from members of law enforcement who have cited Miracle House of Hope solicitors for unlawfully impeding traffic,” Hammond said.

Anyone solicited by Miracle House of Hope Ministries is asked to contact the secretary of state’s office. Online complaint forms are available, and the Division of Public Charities can be reached at 1-888-CHARITI (242-7484).

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