Initiative
A human-centred systems inquiry that listened across tenants, staff, and partners to identify leverage points for transforming affordable housing service delivery toward dignity, trust, and real belonging.
Yukon is facing not only a shortage of homes, but a widening divide in access to safe, affordable, and appropriate housing. The crisis is compounded by socioeconomic inequality, mental wellness pressures, systemic barriers, capacity strain, and a limited shared understanding of diverse tenant needs.
YHC's strategic intention, framed in its 'Creating Home' plan, is to adopt a holistic approach that goes beyond buildings to support wellbeing, connection, and community.
This project sought to understand the people at the centre of YHC and the lived realities shaping the housing system. It blended:
A core theme was trust: how mistrust and fear of reprisal can suppress feedback, block learning, and keep the system from evolving toward its human-centred goals.
Engagement included conversations with:
The report surfaced recurring problem statements and needs across themes such as:
Sustainable Impact Foundation supported the work through facilitation, systems framing, and narrative synthesis, helping translate complex system realities into actionable pathways aligned with 'Creating Home'.
If you are working in housing, human-centred service design, or systems transformation in public services, we welcome conversations about shared learning.
Get in Touch