FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WHITEHORSE, Yukon – The Yukon Anti-Poverty Coalition (YAPC) is inviting applications for funding through Reaching Home: Canada’s Homelessness Strategy to expand and strengthen the capacity of staff who help people find and keep housing. The total amount of funding (approximately $2 million for each of the next two fiscal years) will support Housing Access, Housing Support, and Housing Loss Prevention staff across the territory.
More than 80% of people that we know to be experiencing homelessness in Whitehorse are experiencing chronic homelessness. This investment aims to ensure that staff across the sector have the capacity, training, and resources they need to meet the needs of people experiencing chronic homelessness or at imminent risk of losing their housing.
“These staff positions do not replace the need for more supportive and non-market housing - we cannot reduce homelessness without it,” said Kristina Craig, Executive Director of YAPC. “We’ll be looking to other Territorial and Federal funding partners to invest in the infrastructure and ongoing operational funding necessary to maximize the impact of Reaching Home funding. What this funding does is ensure that when housing becomes available people can move in quickly and get the support they need to stay housed.”
The approach and priorities of this Call for Proposals reflect what was learned during the Community Action Planning process.
“Staff tell us they are overwhelmed and often don’t have the time to regularly check in with their clients,” said Maddie Porter, Community Action Plan Coordinator at YAPC. “We hope to improve outcomes both for staff and for the people they support by increasing capacity and skill-building across the sector.”
Funding is available to organizations across the Yukon. In addition to staffing costs, applicants can also apply for additional funding to support housing stability including:
● Furniture and household items to help people feel at home
● Emergency arrears and stabilization supports
● Social and cultural connection supports
● Funding to strengthen data quality and reporting
Successful applicants will also participate in training on housing-based care, trauma-informed practice, motivational interviewing, assertive engagement, and other key skills needed to support people transitioning out of long-term homelessness.
Information Sessions
All potential applicants are invited to participate in an online information session to learn more about the application process and eligibility requirements:
● Wednesday, December 17th from 11 am to 12:30 pm
● Wednesday, January 7th from 11 am to 12:30 pm
Register for info sessions by emailing Joanne Doyle at rhpo.joanne@yapc.ca.
How to Apply
Applications and full program details are available here
The deadline for applications is January 26th at 11:59pm.
Madeline Porter
(867) 332-5001
rhpo.madeline@yapc.ca
About the Yukon Anti-Poverty Coalition
The Yukon Anti-Poverty Coalition (YAPC) was formed in 1996. We are committed to facilitating the elimination of poverty in Yukon through awareness, education, advocacy, community building and action. We currently have over 600 individuals, non-governmental agencies, politicians and representatives from the business and faith community as part of YAPC and our work. YAPC’s vision is that all people in the Yukon live in an inclusive community free from poverty where diversity and human rights are respected.
About Reaching Home
Reaching Home: Canada’s Homelessness Strategy is a federal program that supports communities to implement coordinated, data-driven approaches to preventing and reducing homelessness, with a specific goal of reducing chronic homelessness. Find more information about Reaching Home here