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New seniors' residence opens in Mayo

The village of Mayo has a new seniors' residence designed to provide affordable, independent living to low-income seniors.

The village of Mayo has a new seniors’ residence designed to provide affordable, independent living to low-income seniors.

The six-unit residence, built by Yukon Housing for $3.34 million, opened on Thursday. Residents must be over 65 years old, or over 55 years old with a mobility impairment, and must have an annual income under $56,000.

“We are ensuring that more housing options are available to rural elders,” Yukon Housing Minister Stacey Hassard said in a news release. “By providing these affordable units, Mayo seniors can remain in their community, close to family and friends.”

The residence is designed for seniors who are fully independent. Each unit has its own kitchen, living, and dining areas, though the residence also has a communal kitchen and dining room.

The units are also wheelchair-accessible, with low-threshold showers and mechanized, moving cabinets to make things easier to reach.

Assisted living services will not be provided by Yukon Housing, and would have to come through other agencies, said Yukon Housing spokesperson Tim Sellars.

“Generally most of our tenants don’t have any need for support,” he said.

Sellars said residents are expected to move in within the next couple of weeks.

Yukon Housing operates seniors’ social housing in Watson Lake, Teslin, Faro, Haines Junction, and Whitehorse.

In Whitehorse, a 48-unit residence is currently under construction on Front Street near Ogilvie, and is slated to open this fall.