St. Vinnie's layoffs spark controversy

St.

Vincent de Paul Executive Director, Terry McDonald, said he would like to clear a few things up.

Up on the story we told you about*last week.

Saint vincent de paul closed it's retail stores amid the outbreak....and since then we have received emails and phone calls from laid off workers saying the nonprofit was forcing them to work at a homeless shelter.

Kezi 9 news reporter kennedy dendy joins us live in the studio...and kennedy you actually spoke with the director who says he wants to clear this all up?

Jillian, what i'm learning is that this*may have been a misunderstanding.

I spoke with someone this morning who said he's*very concerned about the treatment he tells me his partner received by the nonprofit.

When i spoke to the director...he said he would like to*clarify a few things.

Operated by st.

Vincent de paul, the lane events center is now being utilized as a temporary homeless shelter.

The springfield site is in the works..

But one man is speaking out after he says his partner, a former st.

Vinnie's employee who is currently sick, was ordered to accept work at the shelter.

Phoner: "their mission statement clearly states that they're here to help the community and it's like they dont see their employees as part of that community."

Elijah hubner said that his partner was told the unemployment office would be called and that her benefits would be revoked if she did not accept the shelter position.

Causing great concern...because she had a 102 degree fever at the time.

Phoner: "my partner specifically has no experience working with the community, working with homeless people, working with shelters."

Kezi 9 news reached out to st.

Vincent de paul director terry mcdonald who said the team values their employees& terry: "we offer the positions to them but that does not mean they have to accept it at all because obviously i cant compel anything and i'm not going to try."

Mcdonald said that when it comes to the topic of unemployment...he want to clear something up.

Terry: "if there is any confusion about any benefits, i think people should recognize that the state does the denial or acceptance not st.

Vincent de paul."

He said he would like to see all of his employees back in their roles, once this pandemic is over.

"if we are able to continue on, we hope that those people are able to come back and be the good employees that they were before."

Mcdonald told me that he respects if someone feels the shelter position is too unfamiliar or*jeopardizing to them.

He said he hopes this will be an*opportunity for those who*are in search of work to fill the open positions at the shelter.

Live in the studio, kennedy dendy kezi 9