Utility Payment Program

In partnership with the Yukon Anti-Poverty Coalition, the Queer Yukon Society Utility Payment Program provides a one-time payment of up to $500 per household to cover utility bills for 2SLGBTQIA+ Yukoners currently experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity. Eligible utilities include phone/internet, electricity, power, hydro, firewood, propane, oil, water, and off-grid utilities such as gas for generators. This support aims to alleviate the financial burden of essential services and promote stability for those facing housing challenges.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Bills from multiple utilities may be submitted to reach the $500 maximum. You may only apply for a maximum of $500 every fiscal year ( April 1st - March 31st), and then the program available amount resets.

  • Applicants who reached their funding limit in the previous program period may apply again during this new program period. 

  • Eligible utilities include: electric, power, hydro, wood, propane, oil, phone/internet, off grid energy needs, and water bills. 

  • Applications will be approved on a first-come, first-served basis according to the date and time applications are received.

  • Individuals may apply for this program with a paper application form or through an online application form.

  • Payments will be made directly to the utility company by Calhoun Keating Malay using the Queer Yukon Society credit card. Payments will not be made directly to applicants. Alternate payment methods (cheque, direct deposit) can be arranged and will be issued from Queer Yukon’s business number.

  • Funding for this program is provided by the Yukon’s Community Advisory Board via Infrastructure Canada for the Reaching Home project (Employment and Social Development Canada). The funds are administered by the Yukon Anti-Poverty Coalition.

  • We welcome any feedback you have that will help us improve this program! Please email Calhoun at: calhoun@queeryukon.com

Eligibility

This program is intended for folks who:

  • Self-identify as a member of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community

  • AND are currently living in the Yukon

  • AND are currently experiencing housing insecurity or homelessness. This includes:

    • Couch surfing

    • Staying with friends and/or family

    • Staying in a hotel, hospital, correctional facility, drug or alcohol treatment centre; crowded living conditions (not enough rooms)

    • At emergency risk of homelessness, where one has a home but where one’s current financial or housing situation is unstable (e.g. potential job loss or inability to pay rent)

    • Housing does not meet public health and safety standards (examples include unsafe housing due to: mould, lack of running water, or violence in the home)

    • Any other living situation that impacts your health, security or tenure on housing

For More Information

  • Please contact: Calhoun Keating Malay, at: calhoun@queeryukon.com or by phone at: (867) 393-1366.

  • Email is not considered a “secure” form of communication and we recommend that individuals submit their application through another method. However, we will accept and process applications received by email. 

Before You Apply

  • Make sure you have the account number (if applicable) for the utility you are wanting us to pay.

  • Consider what email and phone number would be the safest for Queer Yukon Society to contact you at.

  • If you don’t feel comfortable providing your personal email or phone number, consider asking a trusted friend or community organization to provide their contact info.

  • If your application is incomplete or if we have any questions, Queer Yukon Society will contact you by phone or email to get additional info. This may result in delays in processing your application.

Apply Here

Applications will be reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis, according to the date and time applications are received. Due to funding restrictions, we may have to stop accepting applications at certain times during the year.

HOW TO APPLY ONLINE

  1. Click the button below to complete the online application.

  2. If your application is incomplete or if we have any questions, Queer Yukon Society will contact you by phone or email to get additional info. This may result in delays in processing your application.

  3. If the application is approved, Queer Yukon Society will contact the Utility Provider and make a payment. For payments to woodcutters, all cheques and EFTs will be issued via the Plooto Payment Platform from 711196 Yukon Ltd.

  4. Queer Yukon Society will collect an electronic receipt (where possible) or a confirmation number and send it to the applicant.

HOW TO APPLY WITH A PAPER FORM

  1. Click the button below to download and complete the Paper Form. 

  2. Return the application to Queer Yukon Society by mail to the address listed on the paper form.

  3. If your application is incomplete or if we have any questions, Queer Yukon Society will contact you by phone or email to get additional info. This may result in delays in processing your application.

  4. If the application is approved, Queer Yukon Society will contact the Utility Provider and make a payment. For payments to woodcutters, all cheques and EFTs will be issued via the Plooto Payment Platform from 711196 Yukon Ltd.

  5. Queer Yukon Society will collect an electronic receipt (where possible) or a confirmation number and send it to the applicant.

Confidentiality, Data & Privacy

  • Any personal information provided through the application process is strictly confidential and will only be available to relevant Queer Yukon Society staff to manage the program and to relevant 3rd parties. Queer Yukon Society may provide payment information to funders, bookkeepers, 3rd party bookkeeping software companies (DEXT, Quick Books Online), and auditors.

  • Electronic receipts from the utility provider may be sent to Queer Yukon via email. Queer Yukon will also send electronic receipts or payment confirmation numbers to you at the email address you provide.

  • Queer Yukon Society aims to collect the minimum amount of personal information necessary to process the payment.

  • There are several different utility providers in the Yukon and we cannot control how payments will appear on your account statements. Payments may appear on your utility statement under the credit card number or the name of the cardholder (Calhoun Keating Malay). At this time, we cannot guarantee that “Queer Yukon Society” will not appear on your statements. If you have questions about how this may appear on your specific utility account statement, please contact us and we can inquire with your specific utility provider.

  • Queer Yukon Society will contact and make payment directly to the utility provider but will not mention “Queer Yukon Society” to the service provider.

  • No personal identifying information from this program will be shared publicly.

  • Summary data about the program may be shared with our funders or shared publicly.

  • Individuals may agree to provide feedback on the program. Individual feedback about the program will not be shared publicly but may be shared anonymously with our funders. Summaries of feedback data may be shared publicly.

  • Applications and payment information will be stored for a minimum of six years as required by the Canada Revenue Agency.

Privacy Policies For 3rd Party Software

Thank you to our funders