Executive director of Moncton's largest homeless shelter steps down

Jean Dub, executive director of House of Nazareth, is stepping down after two years running Moncton'slargest homeless shelter.

Dubhas run the organization since the new building on Albert Street was bought and renovatedin 2019, but he leaves with many promises unfulfilled.

"There comes a time in life when you have to have to step back and take a look at what you've done, what needs to be done and when it's time to pass the torch," he said.

Plans for the 105 bed were grandiose from the start.

Dub claimed things would be done "differently" and "we're going to find solutions, we're going to put an end to homelessness."

Dub said services formental health and addiction would be offered at the facility, but thosedidn't materialize.

Moncton city councillor Bryan Butlersaid the shelter failed to meet the expectations Dub set up at council.

"You got to help them,it's got to be a recovery and I thought that's what we were getting," he said.

"And I didn't feel that it was."

The House of Nazareth received $25 thousand from the city over three years ending in 2021. Butler said the facility also costs the city money in other ways.

According to Butler, police and emergency services are called to the building almost everyday.

"We have the Humanity Project, we have the Harvest House, the police are not getting the calls every day to there," said Butler.

"So, you know, there's something lacking."

Butler said if the shelter was better staffed, issues could be "handled from within."

And Dub is the first to admit, keeping staff has been a problem especially since the COVID pandemic began.

He said he lost about half his staff after the pandemic shut downs started, and at$15 an hour, he said wages are too low for the work his employees have to do.

"I think these people deserve a lot more," said Dub.

"There's always something going on, we seized handguns that were loaded, knives, shanks, drugs, alcohol."

Dub said there have been nights when two staffwere responsible for 85 people in the shelter, which can lead to chaos.

He said in one month, people staying at the shelter did $15,000 in damage to the building.

"Somebody ran through a wall," said Dub, adding that major damage has been done to the washrooms.

The chaos inside the building has spilled outside, according to neighbours.

Michael Mann is president of Maritime Door and Window, which he estimates is about 300 metres from the shelter.

"We've had rather a marked increase in theft, vandalism (and)drug paraphernalia on site," he said.

He said the problems started before the shelter even opened.

Dube told the CBC in May, 2019 that he contacted nearby businesses to let them know about plans for the shelter.

At the time he said, "if you walk down the street when we're fully operational, you won't even know there's a shelter here,"Dubsaid. "That's guaranteed."

Mann claimshe's never heard from Dub, and thathe and a neighbourhood group formed specifically to deal with problems related to the shelter havetried to speak to Dub via email and over the phonebut he's never responded.

Mann hopes the next executive director will be more open to workingtogether and will provide the services so obviously needed at the shelter for homeless people.

"And as far as the execution of how it'sbeen operating for the last two years, it is hardly a model for any facility of that sort, in my opinion," said Mann.

Dubagrees that whoever takes over for him should contact local businesses, and should set up wrap around services for people needing help.

"So we still have a lot of work to do, we've come a long way, but I'm very confident that in the years to come that we'll do some great things for the homeless people in the Greater Moncton Area," said Dub.

He said the House of Nazareth board of directors will choose his successor. Dubplans to leave by the end of June.