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http://www.cbc.ca/canada/edmonto ... /20/housing-ed.html
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Edmonton plans thousands of affordable homes
1 D' i3 Z0 P* F2 M0 mLast Updated: Wednesday, June 20, 2007 | 11:02 AM MT ( N2 m8 a" G! Y* e/ \6 V' o, E( L3 a6 M
CBC News " q( m0 V" B9 X/ }; i! F
8 ^8 z& C3 s5 vAn 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.; E) F$ R& M/ i: d* ?
, o, D0 Q# c5 o/ ?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.8 O4 }; I* v& j! I8 O9 x
5 N5 d; i# y. w: t# rThe $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. ( p1 @3 [6 ]1 D- A% ^7 z# A
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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.
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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.0 P( n& o, T! L0 `: D& L; f
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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.7 d2 M9 w9 z& Z
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City officials hope some of the new affordable housing units will be ready in as soon as 18 months.# P3 M* W: Z- D( ?9 P
; q% g2 l6 }2 m1 j6 XBut 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.' B/ @5 ~' f& w: ^* X5 h
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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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