On the 5th of May, Minister of the Yukon Housing Corporation Ranj Pillai joined Chief of Liard First Nation Stephen Charlie and Mayor of Watson Lake Christopher Irvin for the grand opening of a new affordable triplex housing development in Watson Lake.
The $1.7 million project was built with support from the Government of Canada’s Rapid Housing Initiative grant and contains two one-bedroom homes and one two-bedroom home. Two of the homes are accessible, all the homes are designated for vulnerable citizens and one is specifically designated for women and children. The homes will remain affordable for a minimum of 40 years.
Tenants for the new homes will be selected in the coming weeks from the Yukon Housing Corporation’s waitlist.
A total of three triplexes were built in Watson Lake, Mayo and Whitehorse through the $3 million in funding under the Rapid Housing Initiative. An additional $1.3 million was invested in the projects from the Yukon Housing Corporation and $1.1 million from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation Northern Housing Fund.
There is no relationship more important to our government than the one with Indigenous Peoples. That is why through the Rapid Housing Initiative, over 40 per cent of all units will support Indigenous housing across the country, including right here in the Yukon. This is our National Housing Strategy at work.
Federal Minister of Housing and Diversity and Inclusion Ahmed Hussen
By working with our federal and local partners, we are providing more affordable homes for Yukoners across the territory. These new homes in Watson Lake will help provide a safe, affordable and accessible place to call home for families and vulnerable women and children. Thank you to the Yukon Housing Corporation, the Government of Canada and all of our partners who have helped ensure this community project could be built and will soon be open for Yukoners to move into.
Minister of Yukon Housing Corporation Ranj Pillai
The 10-year, $72 plus billion National Housing Strategy is working to ensure more affordable housing for Indigenous communities. At such a critical time, these developments will provide community members with stable housing and direct access to supports and other resources, to assist them in their journey to find reliable and secure housing. Today’s announcement in Watson Lake is just one example of how we’re working to make a difference for those who are most in need.
Member of Parliament for Yukon Brendan Hanley
Liard First Nation is continuously fostering a relationship of cooperation for the benefit of all Yukoners.
Chief of Liard First Nation Stephan Charlie
On behalf of the Town of Watson Lake we would like to thank Yukon Housing and the Yukon government for continuing to support our social housing needs. The Watson Lake Rapid Housing Initiative triplex is a welcome addition in our community. We look forward to working with you on many more projects such as this, to help tackle Watson Lake’s housing shortages.
Mayor of Watson Lake Christopher Irvin
- The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation Rapid Housing Initiative’s $3 million in funding helped create a total of nine new affordable homes in Watson Lake, Mayo and Whitehorse.
- The Yukon Housing Corporation has provided $1.3 million from the Yukon Housing Corporation budget and $1.1 million from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation Northern Housing Fund to complete the three triplexes.
- All three triplexes:
o have two one-bedroom units and one two-bedroom unit;
o are accessible except for one second floor unit in the Watson Lake triplex; and
o will remain affordable for a minimum of 40 years. - All nine units are designated for vulnerable people with two units specifically designated for women and children.
- All units exceed the energy efficiency standards by a minimum of 20 per cent.
- Triplex locations include:
o 100 Morley Crescent, Watson Lake
o 308 3rd Avenue, Mayo
o 2 Sycamore Street, Whitehorse - The projects align with key community needs identified through community housing needs assessments, the corporation’s capital asset management plan and the Yukon Housing Corporation’s work to modernize the Community Housing program.
