Photo by Photo submitted
CITY ROLE SOUGHT – Heather Ashthorn (left), of the Blood Ties Four Directions Centre, addresses city council Monday evening while Patricia Bacon, the centre's executive director, looks on (left). Photo submitted The organization is looking to build a mini-house, such as the one seen at right built by the Tumbleweed Tiny House Company, for its clients this spring.
There is a desperate need for housing to support locals taking treatment for HIV and hepatitis C, city council heard Monday night.
There is a desperate need for housing to support locals taking treatment for HIV and hepatitis C, city council heard Monday night.
Heather Ashthorn, of the Blood Ties Four Directions Centre, appeared before council. She explained the organization's request to have the city hook up the water and sewer services to a small house Blood Ties is planning to build downtown this spring.
Even just one "tiny house” to provide a stable living environment for an individual taking treatment would be a big step in the fight against a huge problem in Whitehorse, said the housing navigator for the non-profit organization.
Ashthorn said Blood Ties has an agreement with a commercial property owner to lease a piece of the back yard.
As well, it has secured major donations of both cash and in-kind services for the construction of the $30,000, 240-square-foot house.
It does not, however, have the $10,000 or $15,000 needed to tie the house into the city's water and sewer infrastructure, she told council.
"The thing about this kind of project is that it is very unique,” added Blood Ties executive director Patricia Bacon, who appeared with Ashthorn to pitch the proposal.
"It is new. It is not a project that has been done in any other major municipality at this point in time, so it is an opportunity for the City of Whitehorse to be on the cutting edge.”
There are other HIV housing initiatives across the country but none use the tiny house model inside city limits for supportive housing, council heard.
Bacon said it's important that this house be built downtown for ease of access to treatment and other services.
The initial request from Blood Ties to provide the water and sewer to the Wheeler Street property went to city council in the form of a letter on Nov. 23.
The matter is scheduled to come back before council for further review Jan. 23, and for a decision Jan. 30.
Blood Ties clients are among the hardest to house, council heard last night.
Bacon said of the 200 in Whitehorse living with HIV or Hep C, 120 to 140 have inadequate housing or are absolutely homeless and depend on emergency shelters.
Council heard that having supportive, transitional housing is an important component of successful treatment.
Treatment programs, explained Bacon, can take six months but usually last a year.
Ashthorn said the housing initiative is meant to provide a stable environment for an individual for three to 12 months, so that in five years, the program has the potential to help a good number of those suffering from HIV and Hep C.
Following from that, council was told, there is a reduced chance of blood diseases spreading further.
"So even though it is one house, it is going to be a great house, and it is a really needed house,” Bacon said.
Council also heard there is a great deal of interest in the project from others in the community looking at building tiny, more affordable housing.
The Yukon Innovation and Technology Centre, for instance, is interested in providing hi-tech insulation for the house, Bacon said.
She said the intent is to build the house – approximately 3.7 metres by 5.5 metres (12 feet by 18 or 20 feet) – in a very public place like the old Canadian Tire store parking lot to make sure the community is aware of the initiative.
Coun. Florence Roberts said she's really not sure where the money would come from.
If the city did provide the $15,000, she asked the delegates, would it be a case of opening the door to similar requests?
"If we give you this one, how many more times are you going to come back?” Roberts asked.
"I promise I will not come back,” Ashthorn replied.
"I promise too,” echoed Bacon.
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Comments (6)
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Taxpayer on Jan 12, 2012 at 3:54 am
Me 2:
The thought of adding another $5,000.00 to lot prices is disgusting. The rest of us work hard for everything we have. Why don't you get a job and earn something for yourself instead of asking for a handout.
Bloodties is an organization that helps needing individuals that suffer from problems such as mental illness, trauma and other life shattering problems. Not to mention that they have done the fundraising to at least try to pay for this project.
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bobby bitman on Jan 12, 2012 at 3:24 am
We built a small guest cabin beside our house for $5500 in materials, including the wood stove, mini-fridge, and cook oven. It has a raised built in bed (home made), a kitchen running down one side, a table and chair at the end of the kitchen counter, a wood stove in the fourth corner beside the front door, and clothes racks under the bed. We used recycled double pane windows, a used door, and logs from Dimok (near Haines Jct - $2400 for the logs, squared, cut to length and delivered). It is wired for electricity, just a few outlets and electric lights. It has an outhouse and a bucket under the sink.
$30,000 for essentially the same thing we built in one week for $5500. Sounds interesting, we'll build that, where do I sign up?
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north of 60 on Jan 11, 2012 at 4:03 pm
"the city has no problem to give money to RAVEN RECYLING..."
The work that Raven Recycling does benefits everyone in Whitehorse and the outlying communities. It's money well spent.
Special interest groups should get their funding from those people who support, those special interests.
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Martin L. on Jan 11, 2012 at 7:40 am
Perhaps directly funding the sewer and water hookup isn't the ideal solution, but I definitely think there's some room to work with this group. It will be interesting to see what happens.
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Me 2 on Jan 10, 2012 at 8:48 am
Me too, I have a need for a house and free water and sewer hookup since I can't afford it. I'm going to ask the city to foot the bill for my new utility connections too. All my financially challenged friends and the social organizations that support them are going to ask the city to pony up for our water connections as well because we are just as deserving as this group is.
I think if another $5,000 each is added to future lot sale prices in Whitehorse that should about cover it so we don't have to pay anything. Thanks taxpayers for all your hard work so I get mine free.
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gary smith on Jan 10, 2012 at 8:09 am
to the city of whitehorse, why not give the money to a non profit that at least is trying to do something positive. the city has no problem to give money to RAVEN RECYLING whenever they ask they cry the blues that they are losing money ya right. try having a heart at very least. blood ties is doing something positive can u really say that about every organization u give donations to?