A petition calling for a 20-unit supportive housing project downtown will formally be put to the Yukon legislature on Monday by NDP Leader Liz Hanson.

"We just think it's an important initiative,” she said in an interview this morning on agreeing to bring forward the Northern City Supportive Housing Coalition's petition.

At a press conference Thursday afternoon, coalition member Laird Herbert explained the group asked Hanson to bring it forward because the project is proposed for her riding of Whitehorse Centre.

Two sites have been identified but there's no agreement in place for either.

The coalition is made up of numerous volunteers along with service groups. Those include the Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Society of Yukon (FASSY), the Blood Ties Four Directions Centre, Many Rivers Counselling and Support Services, the Second Opinion Society, the Skookum Jim Friendship Centre, the Salvation Army Yukon, and Yukon Status of Women Council.

The project has been underway for about a year and a half. It would see the 20-unit housing structure built for the city's most marginalized residents.

They are often unable to access traditional rental accommodations due to a number of issues ranging from a low vacancy rate to mental health issues to substance abuse problems. Staff hired for the project would be on-hand to provide 24-hour support to clients.

While it will be Hanson who will present the estimated 200 signatures to the legislature Monday, she noted this morning it is a non-partisan issue. Both the NDP and Liberals have been stressing the urgent need for it to the Yukon Party government, she noted. People of all political stripes are also involved in the initiative, she said.

There's been nothing to indicate the government sees the sense of urgency, she added, though it sounds as though there is some support for it.

"I'd like to hear a clear statement (of the government's support),” she said. If it's delayed any longer, Hanson added, another winter will set in with no housing in place for those in need.

Members of the coalition suggested the same at Thursday's press conference.

"We want to reiterate again time is of the essence,” Herbert said.

The coalition is encouraging residents to sign the petition either on-line at www.northerncityhousing.org or at a number of locations, including the Salvation Army thrift store or Baked Café by tomorrow's deadline.

Coalition member Kate Mechan suggested support can also be offered in the form of joining the coalition, writing to MLAs about the need for the supportive housing, contacting city council to voice the need for zoning that would allow such projects and joining other groups focused on addressing the housing issue.

"Support from the community always pushes the project forward,” she said.

While the approximately 100 written signatures the group is expecting to have will be counted in a more formal process at the legislature, there is no method to allow signatures collected on-line.

Rather, those will simply be a general indication of the level of public support for the project, Herbert said.

The project is estimated to cost $480,000 per year to operate, with staff wages and other expenses.

Project co-ordinator Bill Thomas, who also chairs the Yukon Anti-Poverty Coalition, said he has been encouraged by recent meetings with Yukon Housing Corp. and Department of Health and Social Services officials on the initiative. He believes the matter will soon get to the ministerial level.

"I'm always encouraged when I get a chance to speak to officials in government,” he said.

Health and Social Services staff are now looking at the business plan for the project, he said.

The financial plan is available on the group's website.

Those of modest means have few prospects of breaking into the Whitehorse housing market.

As the Star reported Wednesday, the territorial Bureau of Statistics has calculated the average selling price for a Whitehorse home has risen to $404,800 – up $80,000 in a year.