New Orleans Homeless Services Director Fired After Workplace Conduct Investigation
- New Orleans Mayor Helena Moreno’s administration has terminated Nathaniel Fields, the city’s director of Homeless Services and Strategy, effective February 10, 2026.
- The decision marks a significant shift in approach from the previous administration of Mayor LaToya Cantrell, which had suspended Fields for three days in April 2025 before allowing...
- Isis Casanova, a spokesperson for Mayor Moreno, confirmed the termination, stating that Fields’ “at-will employment has been terminated.” Fields himself has not yet publicly responded to the dismissal.
New Orleans Mayor Helena Moreno’s administration has terminated Nathaniel Fields, the city’s director of Homeless Services and Strategy, effective . The dismissal follows a review of a investigation into allegations of misconduct, specifically that Fields forcibly kissed a city worker while on duty.
The decision marks a significant shift in approach from the previous administration of Mayor LaToya Cantrell, which had suspended Fields for three days in before allowing him to return to his position. Moreno’s office stated that a “full review” of the incident and related reports led to the conclusion that Fields “does not meet the conduct and professionalism standards set by the Mayor.”
Isis Casanova, a spokesperson for Mayor Moreno, confirmed the termination, stating that Fields’ “at-will employment has been terminated.” Fields himself has not yet publicly responded to the dismissal.
The initial investigation, conducted under Cantrell’s leadership, found that Fields kissed Mary Bonney, a contract worker employed by Civix, during an overnight operation to transport homeless individuals to emergency shelters on . The incident occurred during a period of cold weather, when the city was actively working to provide shelter for its vulnerable population.
Following the investigation, the Cantrell administration opted not to renew its contract with Civix, effectively ending Bonney’s employment with the city’s homeless services office. Both Bonney and New Orleans City Council President JP Morrell publicly alleged that this decision was retaliatory. However, Cantrell administration officials maintained at the time that the contract was not renewed simply because “the work (is) now complete.”
Bonney, in a statement released on , described Fields’ termination as “a win for me and any woman that has had to endure this.” She also revealed that she had recently reapplied for her previous position with the city. “I’m really glad that Helena did the right thing,” Bonney added.
Fields was appointed to the position of director of the Office of Homeless Services and Strategy in by Mayor Cantrell, having previously held a similar role in Baltimore. His firing represents the removal of a key holdover from the previous administration as Mayor Moreno continues to reshape the city’s government.
The Moreno administration has restructured the city government, and homeless services are now overseen by Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Dr. Jennifer Avegno. A replacement for Fields as director of OHSS has not yet been named.
The case highlights the complexities of addressing homelessness in New Orleans, a city with a long history of social challenges and a unique relationship with its vulnerable populations. The city has historically served as a refuge for those on the margins of society, a legacy rooted in its past as a haven for pirates, outlaws, and those seeking anonymity within its surrounding waterways and swamps. This historical context has resulted in a long-standing coexistence between wealth and poverty within the city limits.
The termination of Fields and the subsequent statements from both Bonney and Moreno’s office underscore a commitment to upholding professional standards and addressing allegations of misconduct within the city government. The incident also raises broader questions about accountability and the treatment of contract workers within municipal services.