Kate White, the NDP's critic for the Women's Directorate, is questioning the Yukon government's commitment to provide safe and secure second-stage housing for women fleeing violence and abuse.

The government honoured a 2011 election campaign pledge Tuesday by announcing $4.5 million is available to build a 10-unit housing complex for women fleeing their abusers.

"I am a strong proponent of second-stage housing for women in the Yukon. However, I have real concerns about the government's commitment to this project,” White said Wednesday.

"Safe and secure second-stage housing has been promised repeatedly by the Yukon government, and each time, women fleeing violence and abuse have their hopes dashed as the project limps along between government press releases.”

Advocates have been pushing for the second-stage housing for 12 years.

The commitment to second-stage housing has been announced repeatedly since 2009 by both former premier Dennis Fentie's government and successor Darrell Pasloski's regime, White noted.

The government has asked the private sector to submit packages, including details on a proposed location and the complex's design.

"It is time to stop playing games with the most vulnerable and provide leadership,” said White.

"There are too many unanswered questions about this process to leave me with any comfort. The $4.5 million is for construction, but what about the cost of the land?

Where is the design that developers are to bid on?

"And why on Earth would any government say, ‘I have $4.5 million to spend, so what can you sell me for it?'”

Rather than this method being planning, White said, "It is further evidence of this government's ad hoc approach to Yukoners' housing needs.”

The planned units will be available to abused women for 12 to 18 months at a time.

Last summer, she recalled, the government promised $1 million for developing a proposal for the purchase, design and servicing of a building.

"What did that $1 million buy for us?” she asked.

"Did the government do any of the work it has committed to or did the government not even spend the money?

"Now the government is throwing $4.5 million out for tender without a plan and without land. This is reckless.”