About Us

Yukon Anti-Poverty Coalition

The Yukon Anti-Poverty Coalition was formed in 1996. Our mandate is to facilitate the elimination of poverty in the Yukon through awareness, advocacy and action. We currently have almost 200 members including members of the business and faith community, individuals, politicians and non-governmental agencies.

The YAPC is led by three co-chairs who share the responsibility of chairing meetings, working on issues and making presentations. Every monthly meeting begins with members sharing their concerns, information or issues. The Coalition responds to members’ concerns by forming subcommittees or directing the Coordinator to follow up.

Yukon Government Department of Health and Social Services provides an annual contribution of $25,000 for administrative support to YAPC. The rest of our funding is proposal based — in the past we have received funding from the Health Investment Fund, the Public Service Alliance Social Justice Fund, the Community Development Fund, the United Way and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities. We also rely on donations from members as well as in-kind support from businesses, musicians, service providers and other members of the community.

Currently, YAPC is involved with the development of a Social Inclusion and Poverty Reduction Strategy spearheaded by Yukon Government. Poverty and Homelessness Action Week (PHAW) will occur in October and three Whitehorse Connects days are scheduled for the year. The Housing Task Force recently released A Home for Everyone: A Housing Action Plan for Whitehorse and is actively following up with partners and leaders to implement the recommendations. Other projects include: the initiation of a Mental Health Committee looking at gaps in services and other priority areas as identified by community members in the winter, on-going work to increase options for physical activity for low income Yukoners and Sally & Sisters/Soeurs - a pilot lunch program for women, and women and children hosted at the Whitehorse Food Bank since the fall of 2010.

YAPC is a member of the Dignity for All campaign, led by Canada Without Poverty. YAPC also sits the Homelessness Partnering Strategy’s community advisory board - Whitehorse Planning Group on Homelessness, and the Sustaining Communities Partnership Committee through Service Canada.

Over the years, members of the Coalition have been instrumental in the development of the Downtown Urban Gardeners Society, Habitat for Humanity and the Food Bank Society of Whitehorse.

Our official mandate...

  1. Foster development of strategies and activities to reduce poverty in the Yukon;
  2. The promotion of awareness of poverty in the Yukon;
  3. To help and provide a voice for Yukoners living in poverty; and
  4. Coordination of efforts and information regarding poverty among individuals and organizations within and outside the Yukon

How to Donate

Send your cheque to YAPC, Box 31230, Whitehorse, Yukon Y1A 4P7. We are not able to provide a charitable tax receipt at this time.

Join

Call 334 9317 or send an e-mail to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) and we’ll get you on the list. You will receive information about upcoming events, community issues and background information from across the country and the community. We invite you to be involved in whatever way you can – becoming informed, participating in a task force, volunteering your time or money, making food for Connects or a potluck or taking on a new project.