The lack of affordable housing in Whitehorse is one reason why at least one Yukon non-profit group says it's having difficulty retaining employees.

About half the staff at the Association Franco-Yukonnaise, which represents the interests of francophones, have been around for less than two years, with 10 to 15 of the agency's 35 employees leaving each year, acting executive director Régis St. Pierre said.

"A lot of them are newcomers and they find it difficult to access affordable housing," St. Pierre told CBC News in an interview.

"We know that because sometimes they may have to leave the Yukon and go somewhere else, because they just can't afford to raise a family."

He acknowledged that salaries are one factor, as the wages offered by non-profits tend to be lower than those offered in the government or private sector.

But for employees like Melissa Verrier, finding an affordable house is a major challenge.

"Because we're working here, we don't make enough to buy a house and live here," Verrier said. "That's frustrating."

Apart from rethinking its salaries, St. Pierre said the francophone association is looking for solutions, such as some kind of staff housing.

"One thing we're looking at [is] maybe co-housing, maybe co-op housing, maybe owning something, so we could maybe sponsor employees and help them to settle in the Yukon," St. Pierre said.

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