If members of city council needed any more confirmation that there's a significant housing shortage in Whitehorse, they got it at their meeting Monday night.

The message came in the form of two presentations calling for action to address the problem.

"Something has to be done,”said Nancy Tanner, who manages the Beez Neez hostel. "We don't need another Fort McMurray.”

Tanner was referring to the Alberta community where the city has been unable to keep up with the growth brought on by the oil sands industry.

Citing other communities where growth outpaced the city's ability to plan for it, Tanner noted the problems which come with little or no places to rent or buy and the resulting high prices when there are homes or rooms available.

As a hostel manager, Tanner said, she found the panic of the impending tourist season, which normally sets in around March, began last December in learning what the current situation is.

Already, she has bookings into September. In recent years, she has seen visitors asking her when the hostel's full if they can put up a tent in her yard just so they can get to use the shower in the morning.

With government investments in tourism inviting visitors to the territory, and local employers needing more staff as the territory booms, it leaves hotel space at a premium, she said.

Pointing to the Westmark Whitehorse Hotel as an example, Tanner noted the hotel makes use of the Yukon College residence to put up seasonal staff through the summer.

There's a two-week period at the end of April, however, before the staff can move into the rooms that are still being used by college students where the staff must find other accommodations.

Other businesses are using hotels as well to house their staff, leaving tourists with fewer options.

"It tears my soul out that you invite (these people and there's nowhere for them to stay),” Tanner said.

She challenged the city to contact other municipalities which have dealt with the same problem to find out what they did and what they would have done differently.

Earlier in the evening, Bill Thomas, a Yukon Anti-Poverty Coalition co-chair, appeared before council with a number of other coalition members seated in the public gallery.

Thomas reiterated several points which came out of the housing action plan the coalition released late last month which pointed to the housing crisis the city is in.

The plan outlined a number of proposals to address both the short- and long-term housing issues of the city.

In his presentation last night, Thomas praised the city's current moves that could lead to more housing in the city through documents like the Official Community Plan and an upcoming charette to plan for the downtown. He also noted the city could be seen as a leader just by getting other leaders and groups in the room to look at solutions.

One of the biggest challenges comes in dealing with the Not In My Backyard opposition that comes whenever development is proposed.

It's a situation that's not limited to Whitehorse, Thomas pointed out.

The coalition would support the city in working on a plan where community concerns are heard and development can occur, he added. Such a plan would likely entail some kind of education proponent.

It comes down to what kind of community residents want to live in and what community values they want to live by, he said.

Council didn't make any promises on what direction it would take on the matter.

Coun. Ranj Pillai asked Thomas if the group would want a council representative, suggesting he'd be willing to put his name forward.

Thomas quickly replied it's something he'd certainly be open to.

Pillai then requested a council and senior management meeting to discuss the possibility be organized soon.