The Yukon First Nations Council plans to open a shelter for Indigenous women and children in Whitehorse
The Council of Yukon First Nations plans to build a new shelter in Whitehorse’s Whistle Bend neighborhood specifically for Indigenous women and children.
Council of Yukon First Nations (CYFN) executive director Shadelle Chambers presented the plans to Whitehorse City Council Monday night.
In her presentation, Chambers noted that there is no Indigenous-run women’s shelter in Whitehorse.
“We recognize and know that Kaushee is [Place] has been in operation for a number of years and is named after an Indigenous woman and serves many Indigenous women as customers,” Chambers said. “However, it is not run by indigenous people.”
The plan is to build a one-story facility with 15 assisted living units or 32 beds. The shelter would have both a high barrier area for women with children and a low barrier area.
“We recognize right now that there are shelters that don’t accept women who may be specifically affected by homelessness or mental health or substance abuse issues,” Chambers told CBC News. “So we developed five units to address that.”
There will also be common areas for programming rooms at the facility and full 24/7 support will be available on site.
The shelter will be designed for temporary stays, Chambers explained, and while the exact length of stay has yet to be determined, it will likely be less than 90 days.
needs in the community
Michelle Parsons, executive director of the Yukon Women’s Transition Home, says more shelters in the city would be welcome.
The transition home operates Kaushee’s Place, which currently has 15 beds for women and children fleeing violence or abuse. Parsons said the demand for beds is so great that the shelter is sometimes at 150 to 200 percent capacity.
“We’re often two-story women who we offer services to one another,” Parsons said. “There is definitely a need in the community. That number is steadily increasing.”
Kaushee’s Place offers temporary accommodation, and Parsons said the intended length of stay is 30 days. But, she said, the organization often receives requests for extensions because there aren’t enough permanent housing options in Whitehorse for clients to move to. Parsons says the shelter tries to accommodate those requests when it can.
Sofia Ashley, executive director of the Victoria Faulkner Women’s Centre, said her organization sees the need for more shelter every day.
“We see people falling through the cracks all the time,” she said. “People need a safe place to go when they are in an emergency situation. They need a safe and quiet place to rebuild their lives after losing everything.”
Federal funding to cover most of the project
CYFN receives funding for the project through an initiative between Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) and Indigenous Services Canada.
CMHC’s $9.28 million funding will help meet capital costs. Indigenous Services Canada will fund $1.22 million in annual operating and maintenance costs.
The Yukon government has already donated a parcel of land to the project, located on Eldorado Drive in the Whistle Bend neighborhood.
CYFN is also looking to other sources, such as Jordan’s Principle and the Yukon Department of Health and Social Services, to help cover additional operation and maintenance costs, Chambers said.
The roof should be ready for occupancy in summer 2024. CYFN has publicly advertised the project.
request to the city
CYFN has also applied to the City of Whitehorse for development incentives for the project.
This includes a waiver of the development costs and a subsidy for tax protection of the building for ten years. In addition, CYFN has requested a cash grant of over $88,000 from the city to cover other permitting and inspection fees.
City officials have recommended approving the incentives, but suggested the city provide $20,000 in grant money, not the $88,000 requested. $20,000 is the maximum amount available for nonprofit housing incentives.
The City Council will vote on the grant application on Monday.
