Yukon non-profit describes dream project: 60 units of supportive housing

A Yukon non-profit is appealing to potential MLAs, astheterritorial election campaign gets underway.

Challenge DisabilityResource Group wants to replace its aging Whitehorse office with a new building that would include 60 units of supportive housing.

The organization has alreadypublishedarchitectural plans on itsFacebook page.

"We thought we'd put it out there and show people what the project is all about," saidboard member Mark Browning.

Challenge Disability Resource Group has occupied the same building on Front Street in Whitehorse since the 1980s.Now that building, a former mechanics shop, is getting too old.

The group hopesthat whichever party forms the next Yukon government will agree to back the project inspired by its drawing.

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"Our building is at the end of its life," Browning said. "Either [we] have to rebuild, relocate, sell our property, or do something. We have this shovel-ready building [plan]and we think this is the time to do it," he said.

Looking for support

The building would incorporate supportive housing, Challenge'soffices, and also a new versionof the "ChallengeCaf,"where the organization provides job training and coaching forpeople with disabilities.

Browning says a design for a four-storey model was first drawn in 2012.

He says the group's proposal was discussed with the Yukon government and First Nations at that time but ultimately was not approved.

He hopes that publishing adrawingof a largersix-storey project will inspire some votersto make it an election campaign issue.

"We'll see if we can see a little support, as far as people asking their candidates if they're behind this project," he said.

'Dire need'says homeless advocate

According to Jillian Hardie, executive director for Challenge Disability Resource Group, "Whitehorse is in crucial need of supportive, affordable housing for people with disabilities and barriers in life."

She says the proposed newbuilding would complement Yukon's new Salvation Army shelter, and the Sarah Steele detox centre, in offering people transitional housing and support.

Hardie says it would also reduce government spending on long-term hotel stays. Many of Challenge's clients are placed in downtown hotels.

"60units would fill up very, very quickly. If we look at the Point-in-Time survey, that was done this past year, there were 246 people that were identified as homeless [in Whitehorse]. We recognize that there are a lot of people who are homeless, and are needing safe places," she said.

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No budget for project yet

The new buildingwould surely cost millions. Yukon's new detox centre had a budget of $18 million, and thenew Salvation Army shelter has a budget of $10.2 million.

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Browning says the previous four-storey model proposed by Challengewas valued around $11million, buthe doesn't know how much the expanded six-storeyplans would cost to build.

"We're hoping people will educate themselves on the project and the benefits it will give to the community. And maybe take these pledge forms and ask their candidates to sign and say they'd get behind a project like this,' he said.

"Not commit them to anything monetarily we can work those details out later on. Just that they're supporting the project in principle."