Government of Yukon

Get the Facts on the Northern Housing Trust

The $300 million Northern Housing Trust was established by the Government of Canada in 2006 to respond to the need for affordable housing in the territories.

Yukon received $50 million from Canada over three years.

The Yukon government and First Nation governments negotiated agreements on how the $50 million would be shared. The negotiations determined that First Nations would receive $32.5 million to address their priority housing needs.

The Yukon government retained $17.5 million to spend on affordable housing issues. The allocations were endorsed at a 2006 Yukon Forum meeting.

Negotiations also led to an Investment Plan to guide the types of projects and activities the funds could be used for.

How was the money divided amongst Yukon's 14 First Nations?

The First Nations determined amongst themselves how the money would be divided. They informed the Yukon government of the allocations and how they intended to spend the money.

At this point, funding agreements were prepared for each First Nation. The agreements were based on a common approach (see the template PDF used by all First Nations for funding agreements).  

Each First Nation received their allocation as a grant from the Yukon government through the Executive Council Office.

How will Yukon spend its portion?

The Yukon government is currently determining how best to invest its portion of the fund. The Northern Housing Trust funds do not have to be used within a specific timeframe.

Other Yukon government housing projects underway include the Whitehorse Affordable Family Housing project in Riverdale.


What are the conditions in the Investment Plan?

Under the Investment Plan, First Nations agreed to:

  1. direct funds toward any eligible investment through single units or multi-units and for the benefit of any mix of components of affordable housing demand; 
  2. determine the housing needs of its constituency, and the best ways to meet those needs; 
  3. consider opportunities and ways to maximize the overall economic benefit from expenditures for eligible investments and to co-ordinate activities where possible;
  4. try and not duplicate or replace funding already committed to established programs and initiatives; and
  5. use existing infrastructure first before improving or adding to the housing stock.

Are there restrictions on where the money can be spent?

Yes. The Northern Housing Trust fund was designed to help Northerners meet affordable housing needs. For example, funding could be used for rental, transitional and supportive housing.

The projects and initiatives are guided by the Investment Plan which was agreed to through the Yukon Forum. The funds must be spent on the projects and initiatives identified in the funding agreement for each First Nation.

What are the reporting requirements for grants to First Nations?

Reporting requirements were set out in the funding agreements. Each First Nation is responsible for reporting back to the Government of Yukon about how it spends the Northern Housing Trust money.

The First Nations must record the use of the funds separately from their main government budgets for accounting and audit purposes.

Funding details:
This information was published in a resolution document released on January 23, 2007 by Council of Yukon First Nations on behalf of the 14 Yukon First Nation chiefs.

Carcross Tagish First Nation

$2,253,388.20 

Champagne and Aishihik First Nations

$3,148,313.09 

Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in

$2,828,453.32 

Kluane First Nation 

$1,666,541.82 

Kwanlin Dün First Nation

$2,456,304.05 

Liard First Nation

$2,833,212.93 

Little Salmon Carmacks First Nation 

$2,122,780.52 

First Nation of Na-Cho Nyäk Dun

$2,130,204.66 

Ross River Dena Council

$1,994,111.63 

Selkirk First Nation 

$2,276,206.61 

Ta’an Kwäch’än Council

$1,682,748.11 

Teslin Tlingit Council 

$2,341,539.53 

Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation 

$3,108,294.65 

White River First Nation 

$1,657,900.86 

Housing Trust agreements with Yukon First Nations

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