The contract for a new second-stage supportive housing unit for women and children escaping violence has been awarded, with plans to complete construction by the fall of 2013.

The new housing facility will be named Betty's Haven, after Betty Sjodin, a Gwitchin First Nation elder who worked at Kaushee's Place, the women's shelter, from 1983 to 2011.

The downtown facility will provide 10 units of secure, supportive, affordable housing to women and children who have been victims of violence.

Kevin Fisher, the project co-ordinator from the Department of Highways and Public Works, told a news conference Monday afternoon the facility will be four stories high with office space making up the first floor.

There will be three one-bedroom apartments, four two-bedroom apartments and three three-bedroom apartments.

"The shortage of affordable housing ... is certainly one of the biggest barriers to the safety of women and children in Yukon,” said Barb McInerney, the executive director of the Yukon Women's Transition Home Society, which runs Kaushee's Place.

McInerney said when she first started working at the shelter, women had the first week to take time to heal and think about what they wanted to do.

Within the next three weeks of their one-month stay, it was "quite attainable” to find a house and move out.

"Now extensions are more the norm of that 30-day stay, even in second stage, extensions on the six-month lease are more the norm,” McInerney said.

The leases for the new building will be for 12 to 18 months. That, McInerney said, will allow women more time to work through any issues, including court processes that may arise, with the society's support.

"At Kaushee's Place, we see daily that lack of secure and affordable housing is a significant barrier to the safety of women and children of the Yukon,” McInerney said.

"We have been working towards this project for years, and are extremely excited to see it moving forward.”

The first-floor office space and boardrooms in the new building will facilitate more programming for the residents, which McInerney said the group is also really excited about.

The budget for the building includes three new staff members who will be working at the new 4041 Fourth Ave. location, including a project manager, a program co-ordinator and a child care worker.

McInerney said in an ideal situation, they would also have specialized nursing staff and services for women who are suffering from addictions.

In March, the government announced $4.5 million will be spent on the housing project.

The contract between the society and NGC Builders is valued at just under $4,450,000.

The goal of the project is "to develop an innovative, environmentally and energy efficient facility,” said Elaine Taylor, the minister responsible for the Women's Directorate.

The land and building will be owned by the society upon completion, Taylor said.

"The important infrastructure will contribute most importantly towards the health and safety of families in need in our community,” she said during her speech at the news conference.

"It's certainly a good investment for all Yukoners.”

The Department of Highways and Public Works is providing technical assistance and project management to the society.

"We are proud to contribute to the construction of this safe facility for Yukon's women and children,” said Highways and Public Works Minister Wade Istchenko.

"This significant partnership aligns with Yukon's long-term plan for infrastructure investment and supports local employment and economic growth.”