Federal investment aids Yukon veterans, but gaps remain in support

Legion branches across Yukon and British Columbia can refer veterans to a $4.5 million federal investment in rent supplement programs operated by the B.C./Yukon Command of the Royal Canadian Legion Foundation.

Veterans and their families experiencing or at risk of homelessness may seek financial assistance through the Legion Foundation’s rent supplement program, according to a federal news release dated Nov. 12.

The release mentions that financial assistance includes rent supplements, utility payments, rental deposit assistance and wrap-around support referrals for eligible applicants.

The point-in-time count for Whitehorse and Vancouver captures the numbers of veterans experiencing homelessness in each municipality for 2023. This count is a snapshot of homelessness and serves as a reference to understand the challenges faced by those who are homeless or under-housed, as stated in the Whitehorse report.

The Yukon Anti-Poverty Coalition reported that seven percent, or 11 out of 151 people experiencing homelessness in Whitehorse, had previously worked in the Canadian Forces or RCMP.

Similarly, in the Greater Vancouver point-in-time count, 141 out of 4,821 respondents, or six percent, indicated they had served in the Canadian Forces or RCMP.

The Royal Canadian Legion Branch 254 in Whitehorse has partnered with Safe at Home and the Whitehorse Emergency Shelter to help homeless veterans access services through Veterans Affairs Canada, according to the branch’s president, Joe Mewett.

“They may be entitled to disability benefit, some financial aid and other stuff like that. So we’re kind of the go between,” he said.

The Whitehorse Branch raise money through the poppy fund to support veterans in the Yukon but is restricted in how the funds can be used, Mewett said. He highlighted a need for more flexibility to use the poppy fund for addressing the unique circumstances of veterans in the north.

“We’re trying to talk to our higher headquarters and say we want to be able to use the funds for this, but the regulations right now say we can’t. But because we’re in the north, if we can justify it, we want an exemption saying we can use it for this,” Mewett said.

He emphasizes the need for these funds to support veterans requiring specialized treatments, such as post-traumatic stress counselling, which is often unavailable locally due to the remoteness of the Yukon.

Mewett explains that veterans often need to travel south for long-term treatments, but many cannot afford the upfront costs.

While the Yukon government covers flights and provides $150 per day for expenses, Mewett explains that this support often falls short of covering all costs.

Financially struggling veterans, reliant on small military pensions, potentially face challenges affording additional costs like hotels, transport and food during their trips. This financial strain complicates their access to necessary healthcare.

Mewett also points out that general rehabilitation programs may not address the unique challenges faced by veterans, particularly those struggling with military-related PTSD and substance abuse.

“Putting them in a normal drug and alcohol rehabilitation program doesn’t cut it, because the people that are running the program don’t understand what’s causing the issues for veterans. It’s stuff we saw overseas,” Mewett said.

The Whitehorse Legion branch is requesting approval to use poppy funds for these specific needs, arguing that current regulations should be adjusted to better support Northern veterans.

Homelessness among veterans in the Yukon is a rare issue, according to Mewett. Veterans move to the Yukon seeking an isolated lifestyle that allows them to manage their mental health challenges and avoid the demands of urban living, he adds.

Four years ago, a veteran moved to the Yukon and faced transition difficulties. The Whitehorse Legion and VETS Canada supported the individual by securing temporary accommodation while they established stability in the territory, according to Mewett.

He provided further examples of veterans living with family members but would not consider this homelessness. Despite welcoming the investment, Mewett highlighted that veterans, particularly in the North, would benefit more from specialized support by the federal government.

“The problem we’ve got in the Yukon, N.W.T, Nunavut and even in the northern provinces, is that we don’t have a lot of the specialty resources, and we have to send people down south for a lot of things,” Mewett said.

“For us up here in the north, we could use money for other things. Because we don’t have a lot of counsellors up here that can deal with military PTSD and veterans that want to deal with problems they have with drugs and alcohol.”

Contact Jake Howarth at [email protected]