The Yukon government took one more step toward its housing action plan Tuesday as community members gathered at the Yukon Inn to discuss barriers, gaps, and possible solutions to the territory's housing woes.

At least 100 community members involved in all aspects of housing, from construction and financing to service provision and advocacy, attended the full-day symposium.

Moving forward, the results of those discussions will be further developed by specific working groups that will aim to create a draft plan with short-, medium-, and long-term goals within the next six to eight months.

The draft will be taken through community advisory and government approval processes.

Pamela Hine, the president of the Yukon Housing Corp., said Tuesday's symposium was "excellent.

"Everyone in the room talking about housing, talking about the whole housing continuum, what current programs that we do have and services that we do offer, but also talking about the gaps, the barriers and already starting to come up with some of the solutions to overcome those barriers and help fill those gaps,” she said.

While the drafting process is hoped to take six to eight months, Hine noted that no one is taking a six- to eight-month break from housing while they develop it.

Work on some of the short-term objectives could even get underway during the process, she suggested.

But one thing is for sure, she said: this strategy will be an action plan, "with a capital A.”

"(Everyone) wants to see this move, they want to see this being achievable,” she said.

Kristina Craig, the co-ordinator of the Yukon Anti-Poverty Coalition, echoed Hine's comments, noting the symposium was a "positive first step.

"I think the approach is a good one. I think having everyone in the room is important and moving forward together is very important, which is the whole point of having a plan, really, so we aren't responding in an ad hoc way to housing needs,” she said.

"We are keen for these working groups to get going so we can set some targets and start seeing some action as far as seeing more units and more support available for folks that need it.”

The coalition has been invited to sit on the community advisory committee.

Craig said she hopes some of the organization's members will volunteer for the working groups as well.

For Craig, a couple of things stood out at the symposium. Most notably was an agreement that there's an urgent need to expand the housing stock across the continuum from affordable rental accommodations, to social housing, and supportive housing.

"We need more stock, and we need it now,” she said.

For those looking for a move beyond renting to affordable home ownership opportunities, Terry Holway sees a role for Habitat for Humanity.

Holway is the director of housing, properties and municipal services with the Champagne and Aishihik First Nations.

He's partnered with Habitat for Humanity before to build homes within his First Nations community.

"I see Habitat for Humanity as a great model. It definitely provides opportunity for individuals who are currently in rental units to move towards home ownership, where the model is no down payment with no interest mortgage,” he said Tuesday after the closing speeches and prayer.

He also hoped to see the development of a housing leadership council to continue the conversation.