Fredericton homeless shelters still full months after winter

Months after a long, hard winter, Fredericton's homeless shelters are still running at over-capacity.

Warren Maddux, the executive director of Fredericton's shelters for homeless men and women, says the shelters are still turning people away every week.

"Usually by this time of year, we start slacking down to 15, 16 guys a night. five, six women a night," said Maddux.

"But this year has remained really high."

Maddox says the men's and women's shelters are running at 105 per cent ofcapacity, compared to about 70 per cent of capacity at the time time last year.

"They should have another shelter," said shelter resident Chris Moore.

"They should have two shelters for men, one just ain't enough. Too many people outside still."

Blake Wilson, another shelter user,said the shelters are "hectic."

"It's just been packed, like people just about every day coming in," he said.

Christina Wilson has been in the women's shelter for about two weeks and says she's seen at least seven people in and out of the shelter for different reasons.

"But as soon as someone is out, someone is back in," said Wilson.

Some residents remain in the shelters because they are on a waiting list for affordable housing.

Tim Ross, the executive director of the New Brunswick Non-Profit Housing Association, said there is a link between high shelter occupancy and the lack of affordable housing options in Fredericton.

"Shelters are the front door to our community's response to ending homelessness, but we need a back door and that's housing first," Ross said.