Students to celebrate Social Work Week with focus on housing

WHITEHORSE—Students in the Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) program at Yukon College are focusing on the issue of housing as part of National Social Work Week in Canada (March 19-23).

The students have organized a silent auction in order to raise money that will assist people who are transitioning from precarious housing situations to long-term housing.

“All proceeds will be shared between three community organizations participating in the Landlords Working to End Homelessness (LWEH) program – Blood Ties Four Directions, Victoria Faulkner Women’s Centre and FASSY,” said Stacey McDiarmid, third-year BSW student.

McDiarmid said students talked with individuals impacted by precarious housing and the organizations that work with them to discover how their project could have the biggest impact on addressing housing issues in Whitehorse. Their research led them to learn about the LWEH program.

Through the LWEH program community organizations identify and secure safe, suitable, affordable housing for clients and help provide the tools and necessities to empower the client to live with dignity.

“In our research we heard how challenging it can be for people moving into long-term housing to source the furniture and household items needed to really make a house a home. The money we raise through the auction will directly help people to do this,” said McDiarmid.

"The first challenge is finding and securing housing for our clients; the second challenge is having it be successful. Part of making it successful, is helping clients to live with dignity by getting them the things they need to truly make them feel at home ," said Dana Hart, Housing Navigator at Blood Ties Four Directions Centre.

The silent auction will take place in The Pit at Ayamdigut campus on Monday, March 19, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. It is open to the public and all are welcome.

If you have items to donate to the auction please contact BSW student Thalia Hare at thalmadis@hotmail.com by Friday, March 16.

For more information about the Bachelor of Social Work program please visit yukoncollege.yk.ca/programs/social-work/.

For more information, please contact:

Jordan Aslett

Assistant Professor, Bachelor of Social Work

School of Health, Education and Human Services