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http://www.cbc.ca/canada/edmonto ... /20/housing-ed.html
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Edmonton plans thousands of affordable homes( I$ Y6 S+ l6 @
Last Updated: Wednesday, June 20, 2007 | 11:02 AM MT 5 }6 P( f" b" i& R
CBC News 5 H- r2 \1 P d9 z- J
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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.. o% o L# W4 @# T, ]
8 b8 O$ {6 F% z4 WCam 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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/ M) w! B. |7 EThe $170 million project, approved Tuesday by city council, could lighten that load by providing everything from new apartment units to basement suites and mobile homes, he said.
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"I'm hoping that we can really start adding to the affordable housing, transition housing and supportive housing infrastructure in our community," he said.1 `. s5 v9 M" X! c
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In the past, most people stayed at the YMCA for a few days or weeks until they could get established. Now they remain for months.1 b9 ^' b+ _7 M$ A* t& c
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"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.1 S( ?! x9 t; d7 S' P& ?! `
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City officials hope some of the new affordable housing units will be ready in as soon as 18 months.
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+ T0 s2 q6 m6 t7 r( g" y8 R* HBut 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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"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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