THE homeless and the poor taking refuge at a home operated by the St Vincent de Paul Society fear being put back on the streets.
The development comes after St Vincent de Paul Home officials, who claim to have been elected by the National Council, were served with eviction orders by bailiffs.
According to interim president Ranadi Naqelevuki, the bailiff said he was sent by Ben Hazelman, who was said to have been instructed by the International Council to take over the society's operations.
About 23 people, are housed and fed at the Brown Street shelter in Suva. Yesterday Mr Hazelman said these people would not be asked to go as it was the society's duty to serve the poor.
Problems arose when International Council members alleged about $24,000 meant for school children was misused.
Two International Council members were said to have frozen the society's bank accounts.
Society co-ordinator Elsey Peters said "the International Council told us that each student was only to be given $70 worth of assistance but this can not happen. $70 does not cover the whole year if we are to provide for fees, bus fares and stationery".
He said they used more than $70 per student.
The funds were collected in Australia and New Zealand to help children of those who had lost employment after the retirement of civil servants at 55 years.
Ms Naqelevuki said: "This is not the way to go about doing things - we are duty-bound to help the poor. It has been two months now and we are still asking people for help."
She said people relied on the shelter and that she also spends nights at the home because they can't afford a full-time caregiver.
Accounts that have been frozen also contain money given by Dr Mary Schramm and the Government for a new building.
Dr Schramm's total donations come close to $500,000, however, she has so far deposited $50,000 cash into the society account with the Government granting $5000.
Mr Peters said Dr Schramm had assured the society she would not change her mind about the new building, for which plans were approved in July.
