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http://www.cbc.ca/canada/edmonto ... /20/housing-ed.html
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Q( k6 r. n$ O5 REdmonton plans thousands of affordable homes
. l* m6 Y. M' O. Y8 O- I# J6 `Last Updated: Wednesday, June 20, 2007 | 11:02 AM MT 1 e+ ^' t( ?' c% F* K2 V9 ]
CBC News
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An ambitious city plan to build almost 4,000 new units of affordable housing in Edmonton over the next three years is welcome news for an advocate for the poor.2 [) {3 m- |5 o! j( i x
& E9 A) g8 ?8 \# V! J4 JCam McDonald, a spokesman with the YMCA, said demand is brisk these days for the organization's simple accommodations, which have become home to hundreds of people.
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The $170 million project, approved Tuesday by city council, could lighten that load by providing everything from new apartment units to basement suites and mobile homes, he said.
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"I'm hoping that we can really start adding to the affordable housing, transition housing and supportive housing infrastructure in our community," he said.* q% j% `* @' S5 u; M3 K
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In the past, most people stayed at the YMCA for a few days or weeks until they could get established. Now they remain for months./ K+ o; v% r9 A8 a
& Y) S9 `" x3 m% k"I did find a job within the first couple of days, but it's very difficult to find a place to live," said Darlene LePage, who moved from Montreal with her daughter to make a better life in boom-time Alberta., n! \1 G1 ?' ?+ j7 Z; g
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) ]4 j% T6 t) ]# P9 LCity officials hope some of the new affordable housing units will be ready in as soon as 18 months.
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& W. Q- N _" {( M, Z/ aBut McDonald said the work will have to continue for five or even 10 years if Edmonton is going to meet the needs of those who can't find affordable housing.
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; l p& m1 Z1 c3 K0 F: H+ X7 B1 i"It's going to take time — this is not an overnight solution by any means — but I think we are making good progress." |
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