Housing Supply Gaps

Enabling the Housing Whitehorse Needs

The City is looking at tools effective in other communities that could help support more housing options in Whitehorse. These could include:

Site relaxations: Amendments to building requirements can help reduce up-front construction costs and increase the number of housing units constructed.

Financial incentives: Financial incentives, such as lowering development cost charges, reduce the cost to build homes.

Process tools: The municipality can work to reduce delays and streamline approvals in the review and approval process.

Grants: Direct financial contributions can improve project viability and enable greater affordability, without future payments required.

Partnerships: Collaborations between governments, non-profits, and private sector partners to deliver housing can leverage resources and accelerate project delivery.

Housing Supply Gaps

The City’s Housing Needs Assessment has identified five housing supply gaps in Whitehorse. These are types of housing that are most needed in the community.

Housing Gap	What is it?	Why is it needed?
Non-Market Rental Housing	Housing constructed entirely for rental purposes (purpose-built) with below market prices.	About 1 in 5 renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing. This demonstrates the need for more affordable rental options, including non-market rental housing.
Purpose-Built Rental Housing	Market rental housing, where the property is constructed for rental purposes rather than being converted from condos or other ownership models.	With consistently low vacancy rates in Whitehorse, there is a pressing need for more purpose-built rental housing to provide renters with more housing choice and greater stability.
Entry-Level Homeownership	Housing opportunities for median-income households seeking to purchase their first home.	In 2024, a household needed a minimum annual income of about $135,000 to afford the average condominium. That is out of reach for 61% of households.
Adaptive + Accessible Housing	Housing constructed as single-level homes, with features that support changing mobility needs, and located close to transit and essential services.	The share of residents aged 65 to 79 increased from 7% in 2011 to 11% in 2021. Older adults have unique housing needs to other demographics.
Emergency Shelter, Transitional + Supportive Housing	Living spaces, typically subsidized, with on-site support services to address the needs of very low-income households, individuals requiring extra supports, and those experiencing homelessness.	Older adults make up 55% of the waitlist for Yukon Housing Corporation’s Rent-Geared-to-Income Program, and the main reason cited for applying is the need for more affordable housing. There are capacity limitations and long waitlists for emergency shelters and transitional housing.

The City’s Housing Action Plan will be critical in developing and refining tools to address housing. Because each housing gap needs a different response, partnerships will be central to the Housing Action Plan. Progress will depend on shared action across the housing system.