On Feb. 23, 2026, Gwendolyn Westbrook, former CEO of the United Council of Human Services, was charged with nine felonies including misappropriation of public funds, grand theft, and filing four years of false tax returns. Prosecutors allege that between 2019 and 2023, Westbrook misappropriated more than $1.2 million from the nonprofit’s accounts through unauthorized self-payments, improper cash withdrawals, and fraudulent reimbursement practices. She is also accused of directly stealing $91,000 from the organization.
The charges follow an ongoing investigation by the district attorney’s Public Integrity Task Force. The case highlights concerns about oversight in organizations receiving public funding for homelessness services.
Westbrook was booked into county jail on Friday but is no longer listed in custody. She is scheduled to be arraigned Tuesday at 1:30 p.m. at the Hall of Justice. According to City Attorney David Chiu in a statement reported by The Standard, “Gwendolyn Westbrook enriched herself and misappropriated millions of dollars in public funding meant to benefit the community. We are grateful the district attorney accepted our referral, and the White Collar Crime Division conducted a thorough investigation leading to these charges.”
A city controller’s audit in 2022 found widespread issues at UCHS under Westbrook’s leadership, including improper placement of tenants in supportive housing and circumvention of hiring processes. At that time, UCHS had received nearly $28 million in city funding for housing formerly homeless individuals. Following this audit, Chiu and then-controller Ben Rosenfield requested a criminal investigation into UCHS.
In February 2023, former employee Noel Robinson filed a lawsuit against Westbrook alleging misuse of funds for personal expenses such as vehicles for family members and high-priced jewelry obtained from a board director. The Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing later barred UCHS from nearly $10 million in future contracts.
City auditors had previously raised concerns about financial operations at UCHS as far back as 2017 and revoked contracts after bookkeeping issues were found in 2009.
