The incidence of violence against women in the Yukon is much higher than the national average.
This, according to the study Measuring Violence Against Women: Statistical Trends 2006.
Also, Yukon women head 74 per cent of all single parent families, according to the 2006 census.
So on Tuesday, Women’s Directorate Minister Elaine Taylor announced a new initiative to increase secure and affordable housing for women in the territory.
“We want to target women with one-parent families and women who are victims of violence,” said Taylor on Wednesday.
“This is a critical need.”
More than 37 per cent of women on the Whitehorse social housing waitlist are single parents, said Taylor.
And 11 per cent of them are victims of violence.
The initiative will begin with consultations.
“We will be talking to women at the transition home, on the social housing waitlist and will consult with women’s organizations,” said Taylor.
The consultations should be wrapped up by mid-December, she said.
“And we will move forward with concrete initiatives in January.
“I want to stress this is not just another study.
“There is a pressing need and we want to see something concrete as soon as possible.”
The consultation is about getting specifics worked out, said Taylor.
“We want to define what the structure will look like, its size and location.”
There is already a very strong case for making more safe affordable housing available for women, said Taylor.