Blood Ties Launches Tiny House Initiative in Whitehorse

Monday, 21 January 2019 12:59

The tiny homes during construction (Photo courtesy of Blood Ties)

The program is meant to help provide housing for at-risk individuals in the community.

Blood Ties Four Directions unveiled four tiny houses downtown for the public to see last Friday.

Each 240-square-foot unit will help provide shelter for one person experiencing homelessness in the Territory, and the structures were built and will be situated in downtown Whitehorse along Jarvis Street.

Blood Ties Executive Director Patricia Bacon says the tiny houses have most of the amenities in a normal house, but in a more compact space.

"They're 200 square feet but they also have a loft area. The loft area is the bedroom and sleeping area and they are completely intact units in the sense that they have a small kitchen, a small fridge and stove. They have a bathroom with a shower and a toilet... a living and seating area. They are (also) completely furnished."

$200,000 was provided for the project on behalf of the Federal Government, the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, and the Yukon Housing Corporation.

The first residents will be transitioning into the homes this week, with all houses set to be occupied by the end of March.

Bacon says the centre purchased the land downtown so their clients have all the services they need close by.

"We wanted them in a downtown location as many of our clients use a number of different social services. We wanted the project to be downtown so our clients could access (these) services on a regular basis."

Blood Ties is a not-for-profit organization aiming to eliminate barriers for Yukoners and create equal opportunity by providing those vulnerable to easily accessible health and wellness services.

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