Whitehorse homelessness group seeks program ideas

The Whitehorse Planning Group on Homelessness wants ideas from residents on how to spend half a million dollars.

The federal government is contributing $504,000 to cover the period from this July to March 2014.

Marilyn Wolovick, the groups chair, says it has three priorities.

"Supportive housing, both facilities and services, transition planning for people leaving institutions so exiting prisons, treatment centres, health institutions and the child welfare system and emergency shelter beds," she said.

Wolovick says proposals must be sustainable, meaning they have financial support from other sources.

She says in the past, the group has supported groups such as the Salvation Army and the Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Society Yukon.

The deadline for submissions is March 9.

The planning group is a coalition between local advocacy groups, service providers and the government which aims to solve the city's homelessness problems.