WHITEHORSE –Jeane Lassen, Yukon Liberal candidate for Takhini-Kopper King, today laid out her party’s plans to address a full spectrum of housing issues across the territory, including the Liberals approach to homelessness.

“Addressing the homelessness issue has never been at the top of the list of the current government,” Lassen said. ‘It will certainly be a top priority for the Yukon Liberals and the vision is simple - we want to eliminate it.”

Lassen said a Liberal government would build on the work of the Vulnerable People at Risk Initiative.

“The City of Whitehorse and Kwanlin Dun First Nation have been leading the way on addressing this issue and with a Liberal government they would have a full, instead of a reluctant, partner,” she said. 

Lassen said the Liberals will partner with community organizations to fill the current void in supported and transitional housing, work co-operatively with the federal government to establish a comprehensive funding program and within 12 months have a 5 year funding program and an initial strategy in place. She said the complexity of the problem is often underestimated.

“This is much more than a housing plan. It has economic, environmental, social, wellness and community elements,” she said.  “It also impacts those who have no voice in our communities.  We have been listening and are responding to a very serious need.”

Lassen said a Liberal government is committed to addressing broader housing security issues such as challenges facing mobile home owners.

“Since the Casa Loma closure last year there is a great deal of fear that mobile home ownership is not secure. Mobile home owners are in a unique position in that they are often both homeowners and renters, but have the full benefits of neither,” Lassen said. “Yukon Liberals will work with the Housing Action Plan partners and with municipalities, mobile home owners and land owners.”

The Liberal plan also includes the following commitments:

• adopt a ‘Housing First’ strategy for vulnerable populations such as those affected by poverty, addictions, or mental health problems;
• explore the expansion of harm reduction programs including managed alcohol programs for problem drinking (e.g. “wet housing”);
• collaborate with municipal governments and First Nation governments to implement the Housing Action Plan, and inform solutions for housing pressures, and
• prioritize federal funding towards the creation of affordable housing.

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For more information please contact: 

Jeane Lassen, Yukon Liberals candidate, Takhini-Kopper King

Yukon Liberals HQ 668-4748