Premier Darrell Pasloski is following through on his 2011 election promise to fund a new second-stage housing initiative.

The government is committing to $4.5 million for the construction of the 10-unit building to be owned and operated by the Yukon Women's Transition Home Society, Pasloski and Elaine Taylor, the minister responsible for the Women's Directorate, told a news conference this morning.

The premier announced the funding as part of the party's housing platform during last fall's election campaign.

A group of Yukoners, including Barb McInerney, the executive director of Kaushee's Place, has been trying to get the second-stage housing project off the ground since 2000.

"Our government recognizes that affordable housing is fundamental in building and maintaining strong Yukon communities and families,” Pasloski read from his notes.

"Many families may need new housing alternatives once their term at transition housing has expired. The second-stage housing initiative is intended to help meet this important need.”

The units will be available to women and children fleeing violence for about 12 to 18 months at a time.

The government will start the bidding process this spring. Officials are asking the private sector to provide them with what Taylor calls a "full package”: land, design and eventually construction.

"The Yukon government is pleased to partner with the Yukon Women's Transition Home on this important project that will offer secure and affordable housing for women and children who are fleeing abuse,” Taylor said.

"We are both committed to the prevention of violence against women through the provision of infrastructure and relevant information, programs and services that support and encourage the self-determination of women.”

The Women's Directorate, the private developer, the Department of Highways and Public Works and the transition home society — the property's eventual owner— will all be involved in bringing the project to completion.

Taylor said the building should be ready to occupy sometime in 2013.

McInerney said the current facility has five second-stage units, and that's not enough.

"It's really difficult because we had one come up the other day and we had six applications and all of the women were at risk,” McInerney said.

"I'm tasked with the decision of how do I make a risk assessment on each one of them, and who's most worthy of having this place.”

Last year, Kaushee's Place, also known as the women's transition home, had 273 intakes and 3,000 crisis calls.

Last Christmas was the busiest holiday the home has ever seen, McInerney continued.

"Normally, women want to stay home, even when they're enduring violence at that time,” she said.

"This year, we were full. That's the reality of the times where the housing shortage is to this critical state.”

McInerney pointed to an aging population looking for support through Kaushee's Place.

She said these women often have complex issues that "take a little longer” to resolve.

"The second-stage is going to be important in giving women a little bit longer time to get those dangerous pieces of their lives behind them, in a safer place than moving out in the community,” McInerney said.

The new complex will be named Betty's Haven after Betty Sjodin, a Gwitchin First Nation woman who worked for the society for more than 25 years.

Sjodin's father was the first aboriginal Anglican minister. She travelled with her father by dog team to communities throughout the North.

"You could see that background she had when she was working with women,” said McInerney.

"She's incredibly fun, really lovely to work with, the most organized cleaner you have ever seen in your life and just has a way with women in creating an environment of respect and non-judgmentalness.”