Safe at Home Society applies for Rapid Housing Initiative 2.0 (Cities stream)
The Safe at Home Society is working on an application to the City of Whitehorse for their funding under the federal Rapid Housing Initiative (RHI) 2.0 Cities Stream to convert the High Country Inn in Whitehorse (4051-4th Ave) into 55 units of permanent supportive housing.
The aim of the project is to provide unique opportunities to a mixed demographic of individuals who are currently homeless or at-risk of homelessness with urgent, stable, and secure housing along with support services. The project will attend to the support and safety needs of specific at-risk groups with a separate section for young adults (18-24), allocation of 75% of all suites for people who are Indigenous and a minimum of 50% of all units for women.
“The Safe at Home Society’s sole purpose is to work to end homelessness and the provision of safe and supportive housing is long overdue for the individuals who are still in need. Homelessness has far reaching consequences that impact everyone is this community and COVID-19 has served as yet another reminder of the impact inequities have on those who still do not have their most basic needs met. 4051-4th Ave will help resolve these urgent gaps in the housing and support continuum from a housing-first, harm-reduction, and trauma-informed model of care.”
Kate Mechan - Executive Director, Safe at Home Society
The RHI 2.0 Cities Stream, which is delivered through the City of Whitehorse, covers capital funding for new affordable housing for people and populations who are vulnerable. The federal government project application evaluation period will take up to 60 days, with outcomes finalized by the end of October 2021.
Delivered by Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, RHI provides capital contributions to develop new, permanent affordable housing by covering costs associated with modular multi-unit rental construction; conversion of non-residential to affordable multi-residential homes; and, rehabilitation of buildings in disrepair and/or abandoned to affordable multi-residential homes.
The Safe at Home Society has been active in the housing with supports community since the Safe at Home Plan was released in 2017 and has expertise is building local capacity to end homelessness.
For media inquiries please contact:
Kate Mechan - Executive Director, Safe at Home Society
Phone: (867) 334 - 9310
Email: ed@safeathomeyukon.ca