This news release was updated on December 13, 2022 to reflect that the intake closing date was changed from January 13, 2023 to February 3, 2023.
The sixth intake of the Housing Initiatives Fund launched today to support the construction of affordable housing for Yukoners across the territory.
This call for projects includes three streams:
- shovel-ready projects in Whitehorse;
- shovel-ready projects in communities; and
- project concepts.
First Nations governments, First Nations Development Corporations, developers, contractors, community organizations and Yukoners can apply for funding to support projects that will increase affordable housing options in the territory.
Projects must include a minimum of four units in Whitehorse or a minimum of one unit in communities and must remain affordable for 20 years.
Shovel-ready projects in Whitehorse and rural Yukon can receive up to $100,000 per unit and up to $1,000,000 per project. Funding for rural private homeowners constructing rental units cannot exceed 50 per cent of the project costs.
Project concepts can receive up to $20,000 and proposals will be accepted throughout the year through an on-going intake process. Proponents that receive this funding will continue to develop their project details and may reapply to the Housing Initiatives Fund when they are ready to move forward.
Submission forms and information on the program are available on Yukon.ca.
To date, the Housing Initiative Fund has committed over $20 million to support 47 affordable housing projects across the Yukon that are either completed or underway. Completed projects supported through the Housing Initiatives Fund have already created 190 new homes for Yukoners, including 179 affordable homes.
The deadline for project proposals for the sixth intake is February 3, 2023..
Meeting the increasing housing demands in the Yukon is not something one government or organization can accomplish alone. The Housing Initiatives Fund is helping to support our community partners in building more affordable homes for Yukoners. To date, this fund has supported the construction of 179 affordable homes for Yukon families across the territory.
Minister responsible for the Yukon Housing Corporation Ranj Pillai
The Housing Initiatives Fund supports the development of affordable housing options for Yukoners and aims to meet housing needs at all levels of the housing spectrum.
Over the past five intakes, this fund has supported the initiation or completion of affordable housing projects in Burwash Landing, Carcross, Carmacks, Dawson City, Haines Junction, Lake Laberge, Mayo, Old Crow, Teslin, Watson Lake and Whitehorse.
The Yukon Housing Corporation reviews the program annually to ensure that the Housing Initiatives Fund is accessible and relevant to Yukon’s housing market with due consideration to changing market conditions.
All projects must be 25 per cent more energy efficient than the National Building Code and at least one unit or 20 per cent of units, whichever is greater, in each project must be accessible.
Projects must increase the amount of affordable housing available for Yukoners and can include new affordable rentals, new rent-to-own options, new home ownership options or other mixed market approaches.
Additional consideration will be given to projects that directly support the housing continuum in the Yukon by prioritizing housing to support vulnerable population, and First Nation projects. Consideration will also be given to projects that support housing solutions for staffing strategies for all levels of government and the local business sector.
This funding can be used together with other Yukon Housing Corporation programs, such as the Municipal Matching Rental Construction Program and the Developer Build Loan Program, and federal funding initiatives.
Renée Francoeur
Cabinet Communications
867-334-9194
renee.francoeur@yukon.ca
Joshua Long
Communications, Yukon Housing Corporation
867-446-3354
joshua.Long@yukon.ca