SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - BHP Billiton pledged to give the Yellowknife YWCA $125,000 over the next three years during a luncheon at the Yellowknife Inn hosted by the Yellowknife Chamber of Commerce on April 9.

Deana Twissell, spokesperson for BHP Billiton, left, handed Lyda Fuller, executive director of the YWCA, a cheque for $25,000 during a Yellowknife Chamber of Commerce luncheon at the Yellowknife Inn on April 9. - Tim Edwards/NNSL photo

BHP donated $30,000 to the YWCA two years ago. Recently, YWCA asked BHP if it would help the shelter out again, according to Deana Twissell, spokesperson for BHP.

"It was a decision that took about ten minutes to make," said Twissell.

During the luncheon, Twissell handed Lyda Fuller, executive director of the YWCA, a cheque for $25,000. Next year, the YWCA will receive $40,000 from BHP, and in the final year the YWCA will receive $60,000.

The YWCA provides emergency housing for women and children who are left homeless in Yellowknife, and provides transitional housing for women who are getting over addiction, or trying to start a new chapter in their lives.

The emergency housing is free, but the YWCA collects rent from the tenants in transitional housing.

Fuller said most women who stay in transitional housing usually move on to more permanent places rather quickly, and most don't stay longer than a year.

"We've had many success stories," said Fuller to the crowd of about 40 business and political figures at the luncheon.

"It's our belief that the community needs strong, stable, non-profit organizations geared to help social issues," said Fuller.

She said the YWCA operates under a budget of about $4.5 million a year.

The emergency housing at Rockhill Apartments costs about $90,000 to heat per year, and as no rent is collected from the families staying there, the main focus of Friday's luncheon was to canvas for donations to help keep the emergency housing heated.

It costs $10 to heat the apartments for an hour, $125 for half a day, $250 for a whole day, and $1,700 for a week.

Representatives from businesses such as the CIBC bank, Akaitcho Business Developments, Ron's Auto Service, Scotia Bank, Ecology North, and Office Compliments were in attendance.

City councillors Amanda Mallon, Bob Brooks, and Shelagh Montgomery were at the luncheon, as well as Mayor Gord Van Tighem.

No MLAs or representatives from the GNWT were in attendance.

Each member of the crowd was given a card titled 'Turn Up the Heat on Homelessness,' which served as a donation form. These cards are also in a dozen restaurants and pubs around Yellowknife.