Ta'an Kwäch'än, Yukon government to build new affordable housing units

Forty-two new units of affordable housing have been promised for Whitehorse.  

The Yukon government and the Ta'an Kwäch'än Council announced a partnership today to build in Whitehorse's Whistle Bend neighbourhood.

Premier Darrell Pasloski and Ta'an Kwäch'än chief Kristina Kane made the announcement at the site of construction. 

The First Nation's Da Daghay Development Corporation and the government arranged a land swap for the project.

Kane said housing was a big topic at the Ta'an Kwäch'än general assembly last weekend. 

"That was one of the biggest priorities and one of the biggest concerns for our citizens," Kane said.

The First Nation is the second-largest landowner in the city of Whitehorse. 

Priority to single mothers, elders

Kane said the plan is to build certified "Super Green" apartments with one to three bedrooms. 

Some units will be reserved for members of the Ta'an Kwäch'än First Nation while others will be allocated to people on Yukon Housing's waiting list.

Kane said the First Nation would allocate its units to "elders, single moms and those in need of affordable housing."  

Focus on local jobs

The construction project is also intended to create jobs and training for Ta'an Kwäch'än citizens.

Kane said the construction would involve mentorship and on-the-job training for local labour. "We want to ensure that Ta'an Kwäch'än citizens and TKC businesses are provided with employment opportunities," Kane said.

The government has not released an estimate of the project's cost, nor is it clear how much each of the partners will contribute, or how much tenants might pay in rent. 

Yukon Premier Darrell Pasloski said the construction would feature on-site training and local labour.

"We want to ensure that our citizens can prosper. We want them to have safe, affordable places to live. And we want them to have the opportunity to learn new skills. And this project meets many of those shared priorities," Pasloski said.

A request for proposals is expected to go out sometime in the coming weeks and construction to start in spring.