Governments of Canada and the Yukon sign agreement to address unsheltered homelessness

Feb. 19, 2025, Yukon — The governments of Canada and the Yukon have committed to supporting people living without homes through an agreement signed as part of the Unsheltered Homelessness and Encampments Initiative.

Under this agreement, the federal government will contribute $1 million over two years through the Community Encampment Response Plan to support a new 17-unit supportive housing program and advance the Downtown Whitehorse Safety Response Action Plan, the government said in a press release.

This funding is in addition to the over $28 million investment being made through the Territorial Homelessness funding stream, part of Reaching Home: Canada’s Homelessness Strategy, from 2019-20 through 2027-28.

The Downtown Whitehorse Safety Response Action Plan, which includes the new supportive housing program, enhances security and safety for downtown neighbourhoods while providing support, guest management services and stable housing for Yukoners experiencing homelessness.

Over the next year, the plan will focus on partnering with local organizations to expand services, further improving safety in the downtown core, making food services available, and working with the city of Whitehorse to develop a community safety and well-being plan.

In the longer term, emergency housing policies will be reviewed to ensure that diverse needs are met, community housing units will be constructed, and more affordable housing will be created in collaboration with the private sector, the government said in a media statement.

More agreements with provinces and territories are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.