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United Council of Human Services spotlight
Money meant to help people get off the street is supposed to be protected like a lockbox. Prosecutors say that didn’t happen at a San Francisco homelessness charity. The case behind the headline “Prosecutors say an SF homelessness charity boss hid a massive paycheck from the public” is now moving through the court.
The former CEO, Gwendolyn Westbrook, led the United Council of Human Services (UCHS) for years. Prosecutors allege public funds were misused and are pointing to a significant gap between what was reported and what was allegedly taken.
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Gwendolyn Westbrook and UCHS charges
Prosecutors say Gwendolyn Westbrook, 71, used her position at United Council of Human Services (UCHS) to take money that was meant for homeless and low-income services. They say the activity happened over several years, roughly from 2019 to 2023.
She faces nine felony charges, including misappropriation of public funds, three counts of grand theft, presenting a false invoice for payment, and four counts tied to allegedly false California tax returns for tax years 2020 through 2023. The core claim is simple: a charity funded in part by taxpayers can’t be treated like a personal bank account.
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San Francisco DA Brooke Jenkins explains
San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins has said this case matters because it involves taxpayer dollars meant to help real people. Prosecutors describe a pattern of alleged self-payments, cash withdrawals, and reimbursements that were not adequately backed up…