YT Government: Rent supplement program funding increased
Press Release
Yukon Housing Corporation’s rent supplement program is being increased by $200,000, with $100,000 dedicated to rent subsidies for Yukoners experiencing homelessness. The $1.4 million rent supplement program currently helps over 100 Yukon families to pay rent by providing a rent subsidy to individuals and families eligible for social housing who live in private market rental housing.
The expansion of the existing program will help more Yukoners access rental housing until 2020. It also supports the Government of Yukon’s efforts to implement the Safe at Home Community Based Plan to End and Prevent Homelessness along with the Housing Action Plan for Yukon.
Improving access to affordable housing is key to addressing housing pressures across the territory. By increasing the rent supplement program we can help more Yukon families find rental housing. We will continue to work with our partners to support Yukoners and increase housing options all along the continuum.
Minister Responsible for the Yukon Housing Corporation Pauline Frost
The Government of Canada is committed to safe and affordable housing. That is why to help address urgent housing need in northern communities, our government is proud to partner with Yukon Housing Corporation on investments like the rent supplement program. It gives many Yukon families a much-needed boost, which in turn helps keep the local economy moving. It’s been an effective way for us to tackle housing affordability issues and I’m pleased to see it carried forward until 2020.
Member of Parliament for Yukon Larry Bagnell
- The additional $200,000 funding is part of the $2.4 million 2018–2019 Northern Housing Fund from the Government of Canada, and will help up to 8 additional families per year access rental housing.
- The Northern Housing Fund included a total of $24 million over 10 years. This fund, under the National Housing Strategy, will help the Government of Yukon deliver housing programs and supports for Yukoners.
- The Governments of Canada and Yukon are currently co-developing the Canada Housing Benefit, a program to move families out of housing need with an anticipated launch in 2020.
- The Safe at Home Community Based Plan to End and Prevent Homelessness (2017) is a partnership of the Government of Yukon, Kwanlin Dün First Nation, Ta’an Kwächän Council and the City of Whitehorse and supported by the Yukon Anti-Poverty Coalition.
- The Housing Action Plan for Yukon was developed with several community partners to increase the diversity and abundance of housing options for Yukoners.
- The Government of Canada is currently rolling out its National Housing Strategy (NHS) – a 10-year, $40 billion plan that will create 100,000 new housing units and lift 530,000 families out of housing need, as well as repair and renew more than 300,000 housing units and reduce chronic homelessness by 50 per cent.
- The NHS is built on strong partnerships between federal, provincial and territorial governments, and on continuous engagement with others including municipalities, Indigenous governments and organizations, and the social and private sectors to make a meaningful difference in the lives of Canadians.
Susan Moorhead Mooney
Hon. Larry Bagnell P.C., M.P.
867-668-6565
Larry.Bagnell.C1@parl.gc.ca
Janine Workman
Cabinet Communications
867-393-7449
janine.workman@gov.yk.ca
Sarah Murray
Communications, Yukon Housing Corporation
867-334-8712
sarah.murray@gov.yk.ca
ILR5
