Whitehorse Daily Star

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Photo by Vince Fedoroff

AUGMENTING HOUSING – Pauline Frost, the territory’s minister responsible for the Yukon Housing Corp., speaks during Thursday morning’s news conference on the federal-territorial housing agreement. Corporation president Pamela Hine is on the left, while Yukon MP Larry Bagnell looks on at right.

Governments sign housing agreement

A 10-year agreement worth nearly $60 million between the federal and Yukon governments will be put toward addressing a full range of housing needs in the territory.

By Stephanie Waddell on March 14, 2019

A 10-year agreement worth nearly $60 million between the federal and Yukon governments will be put toward addressing a full range of housing needs in the territory.

Yukon MP Larry Bagnell and Pauline Frost, the territory’s minister responsible for the Yukon Housing Corp. (YHC), signed off on the deal Thursday morning in the lobby of the Yukon Government Main Administration Building.

Details of what will be constructed, and when and where, will emerge later in the planning process.

“This is a significant funding agreement that will ensure we can provide Yukoners with safe, affordable and accessible homes that meet their needs,” Frost said.

“We are committed to working with our partners to tackle housing issues and provide Yukoners with adequate housing while respecting unique circumstances in each community in the territory.”

As it was stressed during the press conference, the cost-sharing agreement between the two governments will go toward implementing the Yukon Housing Action Plan.

It will involve efforts to expand the social housing stock and affordable housing options and working to maintain and improve the current housing supply.

“While we have much to celebrate, we have much to do,” Frost told reporters.

The federal and territorial governments are also set to work together to design and implement a new Canada Housing Benefit.

That will be an effort to provide affordability support to families and individuals in need of housing.

It’s expected further details on that will be made in a future announcement.

The agreement signed Thursday morning, it was noted, commits the two governments to high standards of transparency, public engagement, and housing quality – including improved energy efficiency and accessibility.

The agreement also highlights the “importance of prioritizing people most in need, incorporating a human rights-based approach to housing, and applying a gender lens to all investments.”

YHC president Pamela Hine said the housing corporation recognizes “there is a demand and need” for housing throughout the territory.

She noted the wait list for YHC units changes day to day depending on circumstances and by community.

The nearly $60 million in funding that was announced Thursday is made up of $41.96 million from the federal government and $17.96 million from the territory.

It comes in addition to $28.5 million worth of federal housing investments in Yukon that was announced earlier through the Social Housing Agreement over the next 10 years.

The combined investments will see new construction and the preservation of at least 543 existing community housing units in Yukon.

As well, a minimum of $40 million will be put toward building and repairing community and affordable housing in the Yukon through the $13.2-billion National Housing Co-Investment Fund. 

The National Housing Strategy (NHS) is a 10-year, $40-billion plan aiming to reduce or eliminate 530,000 families from housing need across the country.

Comments (8)

Up 23 Down 1

My Opinion on Mar 17, 2019 at 9:08 pm

We already have Yukon Housing, Whitehorse Housing, Grey Mountain Housing, Social Housing for single mothers. Not to mention all the NGO's Women's safe homes (several of them) FAS Housing, Group Homes galore, 14 First Nations where all homes are Social Housing.

So I guess I am one of the idiots that worked two jobs and spent 30 years buying my own home without support or a grant. How stupid could I be????
What is this world coming to?

Up 14 Down 1

My Opinion on Mar 17, 2019 at 8:56 pm

There must be Food involved. Larry is there again.

Up 15 Down 1

skidrow on Mar 17, 2019 at 10:55 am

The seniors residence at 207 Alexander is turning into a hangout and drug den for street people. More needs to be done for evictions and surveillance. How does this relate to the housing shortage? It's a shameful and disturbing trend associated with jobless, homeless.

Up 21 Down 1

Atom on Mar 15, 2019 at 2:36 pm

Jaysus... just open up some goddamn land for sale and don't allow any developers to inflate the price. And not 30 lots but 200... there are lots of areas the nimbys and environuts don't want touched.... lots of infill and extension possible.

75'x150' lots at 70k and you would have lots of takers and lots of people able to afford a contractor to build them a house at $150 a sq ft.
That's affordable for those who want their own house and enough room to park a boat and quad and have a shop.
Because they could afford it! And then they could say, go out for a nice meal or donate to charity, etc. every once in a while and help this ridiculous town economically.

Greedy bastards and idiocy is all that's in the way.
It's not just poor people that need a place to live. Jaysus

Up 17 Down 0

Jim on Mar 15, 2019 at 1:06 pm

$60 million spread out over 10 years? Hardly solves the problems of today.

Up 23 Down 5

Mike Oleshak on Mar 15, 2019 at 6:09 am

Provide land for locals to build on based on length of history in Yukon. Throw the gender crap out the window it's RACIST.

Up 8 Down 5

Tater on Mar 14, 2019 at 5:02 pm

I don't know why "there is a demand and need". The property in our neighborhood has basically sat vacant for the last years.

Up 30 Down 7

Josey Wales on Mar 14, 2019 at 2:44 pm

Hmmm....”The National Housing Strategy (NHS) is a 10-year, $40-billion plan aiming to reduce or eliminate 530,000 families from housing need across the country.”

Seems the best way to accomplish this goal, is to inform 530,000 families
that do not reside here currently...that we are full.
Too many of our own citizens homeless and destitute.
Too radical that elementary suggestion, comrades?

Stick that notice up, and the costs are the time it takes to proclaim and post.

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