Whitehorse —The governments of Canada and the Yukon announced that an agreement to support people living without homes has been signed as part of the Unsheltered Homelessness and Encampments Initiative (UHEI).
Funding from the Community Encampment Response Plan (CERP) will support a new 17-unit supportive housing program and contribute to the Downtown Whitehorse Safety Response Action Plan. The program is operated in partnership by the Safe at Home Society and the Government of Yukon to support people experiencing homelessness.
Under this agreement, the Government of Canada will contribute $1 million over two years to provide stable, supportive housing and advance the Downtown Whitehorse Safety Response Action Plan. This is on top of what the federal government is investing through Reaching Home: Canada’s Homelessness Strategy, over $28 million through the Territorial Homelessness funding stream from 2019-20 through 2027-28 for communities in the Yukon.
The Downtown Whitehorse Safety Response Action Plan, which includes the new supportive housing program at 408 Alexander Street, enhances security and safety for downtown neighbourhoods while providing support, guest management services, and stable housing for vulnerable Yukoners experiencing homelessness. Over the next year, the plan will focus on partnering with local organizations to expand services, further improving safety in the downtown core, making food services available, and working with the City of Whitehorse to develop a community safety and well-being plan. This will be jointly undertaken by the Aboriginal Community Safety Planning (ACSP) initiative and the Canadian Centre for Safer Communities (CCFSC). In the longer term, emergency housing policies will be reviewed to ensure that diverse needs are met, community housing units will be constructed, and more affordable housing will be created in collaboration with the private sector.
Housing provides stability and security and serves as the foundation for overall well-being. Everyone has a right to safe housing, regardless of their circumstances. Every Canadian deserves a safe and affordable place to live. More agreements with provinces and territories are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.