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http://www.cbc.ca/canada/edmonto ... /20/housing-ed.html! V6 Z. k6 S, p8 u y
. z! e4 B% |, ?: n4 j3 J+ W9 ZEdmonton plans thousands of affordable homes
5 x6 S5 U; d) i y4 l) {; U. B& J' Q' QLast Updated: Wednesday, June 20, 2007 | 11:02 AM MT
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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.7 ?. m* m+ u3 c5 h- e
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Cam 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.5 _6 r' a, X9 h! e0 k7 U N
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The $170 million project, approved Tuesday by city council, could lighten that load by providing everything from new apartment units to basement suites and mobile homes, he said. 0 ^ r9 [4 z4 x. k# u/ e
/ ^; x2 j. Y6 j% }, D1 B( k"I'm hoping that we can really start adding to the affordable housing, transition housing and supportive housing infrastructure in our community," he said.; F% j# @. i% d4 h% _. B$ P
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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.
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; T- Z/ W, ]( v4 m! Z! h( s"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.: u- t% g9 H" z% a
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City officials hope some of the new affordable housing units will be ready in as soon as 18 months.4 {/ X9 \7 ?/ S$ n- G
$ t% I& E3 n0 s; r( W0 yBut 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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/ V# i( C6 J% V1 j1 _4 ~# `4 X) l"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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