Reaching Home, a program funded by the federal government to prevent and reduce homelessness across Canada, is expecting $1.4 million will be added to base funding available to Yukon organizations and governments this fiscal year.

Reaching Home funding is administered by the Yukon Anti-Poverty Coalition.

Members of the Community Advisory Board, made up of organizations and government that serve people who are homeless, have recommended that this anticipated funding be used for capital investments for permanent or transitional supported housing.

Along with capital investments, funding is expected to support housing services, prevention and shelter diversion, health and medical services, and client support services.

This anticipatory call has an application deadline of 5 p.m. June 18.

This funding is available for projects in any Yukon community.

Eligible recipients include: non-governmental organizations, Indigenous governments and organizations, public health and educational institutions, municipalities, territorial governments and their agencies.

Natalie Taylor, the Reaching Home program officer in Whitehorse, called the program “a unique opportunity to buy, build or repair housing in which to provide individualized wrap-around support services to help vulnerable people stay securely housed.

“We are hearing that with a lack of housing options available to people, support services need to be able to expand their capacity to meet the rising needs in the community,” she said Wednesday.

The Community Entity will provide support with the application process.

‘We know that completing a lengthy application is a challenge for organizations with stretched administrative capacity, so we are glad to offer support in writing and reviewing proposals,” said Miasha Albisser, the Reaching Home program officer.

“We hope all interested parties will be in touch so we can help ensure all applications are complete and submitted by the deadline of June 18.”

Application forms and additional information can be found on the anti-poverty coalition’s website http://www.yapc.ca.

Look for the Reaching Home header, click on the Call-out for Funding link and scroll to the end of the article to find the applications – one for capital projects and one for support services projects.