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http://www.cbc.ca/canada/edmonto ... /20/housing-ed.html
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4 s& i2 \( h; s: ?) HEdmonton plans thousands of affordable homes
# N' c1 T9 ]1 |. CLast Updated: Wednesday, June 20, 2007 | 11:02 AM MT
; s* J3 x) _" x) tCBC 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.
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4 A& x1 Y$ B% b4 V. U7 n$ RCam 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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% p: d ]: `+ t9 w$ P2 L7 aThe $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.# I; ~+ c7 i+ [2 r8 \ `
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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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7 n2 ~+ `& [2 l; m"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.9 o6 ]# P6 ~6 }5 I9 ?
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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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7 y1 `& O- e/ O- c# R, t1 nBut 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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2 z6 v; s; l! N& E' B( P/ d"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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