Fredericton ‘Men’s Shelter’ gets new name

‘The Men’s Shelter’ in Fredericton has a new name that aims to provide residents with more dignity.

Fredericton Homeless Shelters Inc. Executive Director Warren Maddox says the shelter has been renamed to ‘St. John House’.  He says the name is now official.

The name change comes after feedback from residents.

“We really sort of looked at it as an opportunity to rebrand a little bit,” Maddox said. “Certainly in terms of the overall reason behind it really came from the residents and them saying, ‘You know, we know where we are, why remind us of it all the time?'”

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Maddox says that raised a good point, and residents had a chance to submit name ideas.

He says ‘St. John House’ was the most fitting because the shelter sits right next to the Saint John river.

Maddox tells Global News one of the organization’s missions is to “restore the dignity of the human” and says when people come to the shelter they often feel pretty low.  He says the new name adds a level of respect and dignity for the 25-men who use the shelter.

“We realize that given that its been 32-years called ‘The Men’s Shelter’ it’ll probably be another decade before ‘St. John House’ really sort of comes into its own,” Maddox said.

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Maddox says a sign with the new name will be made for the door in the near future.