WHITEHORSE, YT, June 26,
2024 /CNW/ - Today, the federal and Yukon governments announced an enhancement to
the Canada Housing Benefit (CHB) to provide housing supports for
Survivors of Gender-Based Violence.
The federal government is investing $5.24
million to create housing options that will be cost-matched
by the Yukon for a combined total
of $10.49 million in funding over the
next four years.
The announcement was made today by Brendan Hanley, Member of Parliament for
Yukon, on behalf of the Honourable
Sean Fraser, federal Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and
Communities, alongside the Honourable Ranj Pillai, Premier of
Yukon and Minister responsible for
Yukon Housing Corporation, and the Honourable Jeanie McLean, Deputy
Premier of Yukon and Minister
responsible for Minister responsible for Women and Gender Equity
Directorate.
This enhancement to the CHB will help survivors of gender-based
violence, including women, children and 2SLGBTQI+ people find a
safe and affordable place to call home. The funding benefit is
expected to support over 328 households during the critical time of
vulnerability and need experienced by those fleeing violence.
Yukon is the tenth province in
Canada to co-design a program
under the Canada Housing Benefit meant for Survivors of
Gender-Based Violence, and will provide up to $2,000 a month for the first 12 months, followed
by a decreasing benefit for an additional six months for qualifying
applicants. These supports will give recipients time to stabilize
and get back on their feet before they have to carry rental costs
on their own.
The CHB for Survivors of Gender-Based Violence will follow the
same terms and conditions as the existing CHB Program. While this
CHB funding is specifically for survivors of gender-based violence,
provinces and territories will have the flexibility to use their
cost-matching to support ending gender-based violence or other
priorities and programs to assist this vulnerable population with
direct-to-household affordability assistance.
Yukon survivors of gender-based
violence can access the program by completing an application form
available at Yukon.ca or at any Yukon Housing Corporation office.
Application to this program will also be available at participating
not-for-profit organizations by mid-summer.
For information on how to apply and eligibility requirements,
visit Yukon.ca or contact Yukon Housing Corporation
Quotes:
"The federal government has invested more than $4 billion in the Canada Housing Benefit to
provide direct assistance to households in need. With this
additional funding we are partnering with the Yukon to assist those who have experienced
gender-based violence, including women, children and 2SLGBTQI+
people, find a safe and affordable place to call home." –
Brendan Hanley, Member of Parliament
for Yukon – on behalf of the
Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and
Communities
"Our government is committed to supporting Yukoners facing
gender-based violence. No one should have to stay in a violent
living situation. We recognize how hard it is to make the decision
to leave we want to ensure there are supportive and effective
programs in place to help with this transition. Our government is
proud to support this initiative and thank the Government of
Canada for their partnership. Day
in and day out, we will continue to work to improve the lives of
Yukoners to help ensure their safety and well-being across the
territory." – Ranj Pillai, Premier and Minister
Responsible for Yukon Housing Corporation
"This is an incredibly important program, and a step towards
ending gender-based violence in our territory. Housing insecurity
is a well-known contributing factor in the perpetuation of
gender-based violence. People may choose to stay in a household
where they experience violence and abuse if they are facing
homelessness as an alternative. Access to safe, affordable housing
is one of the priority action items identified in the Yukon's Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women,
Girls and Two-spirit+ People Strategy. The gender-based violence
stream of the Canada-Yukon Housing Benefit program will support the
survivors in regaining their autonomy and economic independence."
– The Honourable Jeanie McLean, Minister responsibel for Women
and Gender Equity Directorate
Quick facts:
- The federal government announced in November 2017 that it would invest $2 billion in a new Canada Housing
Benefit (CHB) as part of the National Housing Strategy
(NHS). Provinces and territories (PTs) are cost-matching this
funding for a total $4 billion
investment over eight years, starting in 2020-21.
- The CHB aims to reduce housing need for some of
Canada's most vulnerable by
providing funding directly to households in need to help them
afford their housing costs.
- Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) worked with PTs
to create 13 CHB initiatives, one for each jurisdiction. These
initiatives were co-developed based on a series of federal themes
and are tailored to prioritize populations that are in housing need
in each jurisdiction. PTs are delivering the CHB in their
jurisdictions.
- The CHB for Survivors of Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) is
an enhancement to the already existing CHB.
- Budget 2021 included an additional $315.4 million over seven years for the CHB
to provide financial assistance for low-income women and children
fleeing violence. However, the landscape of violence prevention has
shifted since then with the introduction and subsequent endorsement
and support of the National Action Plan to End Gender-Based
Violence (Action Plan) in November
2022.
- The National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence defines
gender-based violence as that which is "based on gender norms and
unequal power dynamics, perpetrated against someone based on their
gender, gender expression, gender identity, or perceived gender. It
may take many forms, including physical, economic, sexual, as well
as emotional (psychological) abuse." This may include intimate
partner violence and human trafficking.
- The NHS is built on strong partnerships between the
federal, provincial, and territorial governments, and continuous
engagement with others, including municipalities, Indigenous
governments and organizations, and the social and private housing
sectors. This includes consultations with Canadians from all walks
of life, and people with lived experience of housing need.
Additional Information:
- Visit Canada.ca/housing for the most requested Government
of Canada housing
information.
- CMHC contributes to the stability of the housing market and
financial system, provides support for Canadians in housing need,
and offers unbiased housing research and advice to all levels of
Canadian government, consumers and the housing industry. CMHC's aim
is that everyone in Canada has a
home they can afford and that meets their needs. For more
information, visit www.placetocallhome.ca.
- Visit National Action Plan to End Gender-Based
Violence to learn more about the plan.
- To apply for rent subsidy through the Yukon
Government
- Yukon Strategic Housing Plan
SOURCE Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC)