Yukon government releases draft housing plan

 

Yukon government releases draft housing plan in response to scathing auditor general report

The Yukon Government unveiled a draft plan that focuses on affordable and transitional housing for vulnerable Yukoners.
It comes in response to a scathing report by the auditor general in May on the state of housing in the territory.

In an interview with CBC, Yukon Housing Minister Ranj Pillai said the most important part of the plan is coordination and data sharing between the Yukon Housing Corporation, the Department of Health and Social Services, municipalities and First Nations.
"Data is going to be … such a priority here," he said.

The draft plan responds to the auditor general's criticisms of the Yukon Government's "startling" lack of progress on bringing adequate and affordable housing to vulnerable Yukoners.

That audit focused on emergency shelters, transitional housing, supportive housing and social housing but did not look at the private rental market nor homeownership.

The Yukon government's response is similar in focus — and has advocates concerned about how effective the draft plan will be for the 210 individuals and families facing homelessness now and into the winter.

Kate Mechan, executive director for the Safe At Home Society, said she is "heartened" to hear organizations like hers will be invited to the table.

Mechan said the plan includes some tangible actions like reviewing the waitlist and coordinating access to housing, but she expected more detail on how the draft plan will end homelessness.