Members of the Yukon Anti-Poverty Coalition are pleased to be releasing A Home for Everyone: A Housing Action Plan for Whitehorse 10 Year Progress Report. The report is a compilation of progress based on recommendations made in 2011 as well as a set of new recommendations to address the deepening housing crisis in Whitehorse.
“In 2011, we highlighted a housing crisis that was having a huge impact on low-income earners and people needing supports to find and keep their housing,” says Charlotte Hrenchuk, YAPC co- chair. “Today the crisis has deepened to include people across the housing continuum. The negative impact on renters and vulnerable populations is without question the most acute.”
The 10 Year Progress report is based on the belief that housing is a human right, that we can end homelessness and that the resources available to the community can be better utilized to create more housing options for people living in Whitehorse.
“We received surveys from more than 400 members of the public, landlords, service providers and policy makers and the messages were consistent – housing is unaffordable, inadequate and inaccessible especially for renters, people needing added supports and people entering the housing market,” says Kristina Craig, Executive Director of YAPC. “For renters, waitlists are long, hotels are full and bedbugs have become common. For people making a modest income, buying a first home is unreachable putting even more pressure on the limited rental market.”
Approximately 2,192 units were added across the housing continuum over the past 10 years, 13% of those were beds in long-term care facilities transitional housing and emergency shelters.
“It is pretty clear that we did not catch up to demand over the past 10 years,” says Bill Thomas, YAPC co-chair. “With new recommendations and a Housing Forum taking place this week, we hope adding housing stock, especially rentals, will be a priority for governments and the community. It’s time we got creative and tried every option available!”
A 2021 Housing Inventory will be released next week as well as detailed survey results.