Alleged fraud of client under investigation by PHS, police

Vancouver police and PHS Community Services Society are investigating an alleged incident of fraud involving a PHS client.

“PHS is conducting an internal investigation of the incident and the VPD is also conducting its own investigation,” PHS executive director Jennifer Breakspear told Postmedia News Tuesday.

“We are co-operating fully with the VPD and have provided them with evidence as requested. We are working closely with police to ensure the investigations are done properly and concluded as expeditiously as possible.

“I am not at liberty to comment further on the specifics of this alleged incident until all investigations are concluded. However, we want to emphasize that there is nothing more important to PHS than the safety and security of the people we serve. Nothing is more important to us.”

Global B.C. is reporting that a PHS staff member allegedly took $15,000 from the bank account of a vulnerable member.

PHS had previously found itself in hot water in 2014 when top managers illicitly racked up hundreds of thousands of dollars in limos, overseas trips, meals, parties and other perks because of lax financial oversight.

PHS is a non-profit organization that is supposed to provide housing, services and advocacy for the poor in the Downtown Eastside and operates the Insite safe-injection site.