The Municipal District of St. Stephen, the charity that runs a local homeless shelter, and provincial officials are responding to complaints from the public about what some describe as chaos outside the building.

“We have to take care of our community as a whole, not just the individuals that are unhoused,” Mayor Alan MacEachern said.

“We've got to look at our community members and our lifestyles, and how it's being affected, too. It's a very tough balancing act.”

After attempts to establish emergency housing in a few different spots in recent years, the Lighthouse Lodge opened in late 2024, downtown on Main Street.

Neighbours have voiced concerns about needles, garbage, fights, volatility and noise occurring near the shelter any hour of the day or night.

“We'd all feel the same way i

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