Still not seeing how OP "misrepresented" the article. The points OP highlighted, that money was inappropriately funneled to the Chief and others, and that the whole program is under investigation as a result, is not mutually exclusive from the fact that the program helps people.

The program helping people is pretty irrelevant to the Chief putting money in his pocket from the program when it was explicitly stated he wouldn't get paid.

The $30 includes a 30 minute (I think; it's been years since I've had to use the referral service) consultation, which is a lot cheaper than you'd pay with the referral.

I disagree with you, but I fully respect and support your right to be wrong.