A dark cloud had loomed over the House of Nazareth in downtown Moncton as the homeless shelter earned a less-than-stellar reputation.

But improvements have been made according to a new case manager who began working at the facility last summer.

Amanda Canning made a presentation to Moncton City Council on Monday and noted how community relations have been on the rise since she joined in June.

“We met with various community organizations. We learned all about what they had to offer for services and in turn we invited those community organizations into the facility.”

Canning said the facility has built great relationships with mental health and addictions services and various rehabs in the area.

When she arrived, she said several individuals had spent excessive amounts of time at the shelter.

“An example would be a father who had health issues, and his daughter, who struggled with her mental health. They were both booked in for over three years.”

Canning said it took time but workers were eventually able to build trust with the father and his daughter and finally found them supportive housing late last year.

Since last July, Canning said the shelter has housed and diverted 100 individuals.

So far this month, she added eight individuals had been housed and diverted.