Worker fired, accused of theft

CHAPEL HILL -- The agency that runs the county's homeless shelters has fired an employee accused of stealing from a fund that helps people in crisis.

The Inter-Faith Council for Social Service discovered the missing money about six weeks ago, according to a letter that Executive Director Chris Moran sent donors.

The employee admitted taking the money and will be charged once police finish investigating the case, he wrote.

In an interview, Moran declined to estimate how much money was missing. In monthly installments, the IFC deposits about $150,000 a year into the crisis intervention fund to help people pay their rent and utility bills, he said.

The employee, whom Moran would not identify, worked for the IFC for four or five years and is accused of taking the money over 29 months, he said.

"She knew our practices," he said. "She knew how to go around them."

The IFC has employee dishonesty insurance to cover the losses, Moran said. The United Way considers the insurance a best practice, and many human service agencies that can afford the insurance purchase it, Moran said.

The IFC has a $1.5 million budget and 31 full- and part-time employees, Moran said. He added that the agency has taken several steps to prevent future thefts.

"I have not lost faith in the employees because of one betrayal," he said. "This is something we've all had to process. Part of the process is letting our friends know."