This is a joint news release between the Government of Yukon and the Safe at Home Society.
The Government of Yukon is proud to support the Safe at Home Society in providing Yukoners with temporary supportive housing this winter and spring.
Starting mid-February, the Safe at Home Society will provide short-term supportive housing at 4051 4th Avenue, the former Coast High Country Inn, in Whitehorse to alleviate the pressures of homelessness faced by vulnerable Yukoners this winter. This initiative aligns with their goal to provide permanent supportive housing at this site in the future. A temporary occupancy permit was issued by the City of Whitehorse in January and the organization is able to occupy until June 30, 2023.
The Yukon government provided the Safe at Home Society with funding for capital improvements necessary for the temporary supportive housing and is finalizing an agreement to provide 24/7 on-site support.
All temporary housing units will be allocated from the By-Name List, Whitehorse’s real-time list of individuals experiencing homelessness. If anyone has questions about how units will be allocated, please connect directly with Anthony Boisvert, Manager, Temporary Housing Program, at Safe at Home at 867-334-8987.
We are pleased to support the Safe at Home Society in providing Yukoners with wrap around housing with services this winter. We will continue to work with the Safe at Home Society and other partners on new, innovative ways to address homelessness in our community.
Minister of Health and Social Services Tracy-Anne McPhee
Safe at Home is thrilled to put this building to use for the next 5 months by directly supporting individuals who are experiencing homelessness. A foundation of this temporary program will be to work with tenants to obtain permanent housing. In the background, Safe at Home will work with Government of Yukon and other funders to ensure the future state of the project will be realized.
Safe at Home Society Executive Director Kate Mechan
There will be 20 temporary supportive housing units at 4051 4th Avenue, the former Coast High Country Inn site, in Whitehorse starting mid-February 2023.
Matthew Cameron
Cabinet Communications
867-332-0615
matthew.cameron@yukon.ca
Carleen Kerr
Communications, Health and Social Services
867-332-8293
carleen.kerr@yukon.ca
Kate Mechan
Executive Director, Safe at Home Society
867-334-9310
ed@safeathomeyukon.ca