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http://www.cbc.ca/canada/edmonto ... /20/housing-ed.html' j7 U$ \* q$ Y0 L% f4 m
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Edmonton plans thousands of affordable homes1 ] Y# I5 U% p: d6 M
Last Updated: Wednesday, June 20, 2007 | 11:02 AM MT
& P; I+ P4 ?5 K' cCBC 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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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.7 ~6 W! B8 D* a4 a7 N
: p. n$ ~* Q7 v. `) e/ `The $170 million project, approved Tuesday by city council, could lighten that load by providing everything from new apartment units to basement suites and mobile homes, he said. / h; O2 V) M# w5 t
1 j& S% Y, H5 h& v8 ]! z: G, {"I'm hoping that we can really start adding to the affordable housing, transition housing and supportive housing infrastructure in our community," he said.( D1 i- X4 n* o
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In the past, most people stayed at the YMCA for a few days or weeks until they could get established. Now they remain for months.
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"I did find a job within the first couple of days, but it's very difficult to find a place to live," said Darlene LePage, who moved from Montreal with her daughter to make a better life in boom-time Alberta.% U1 `# `0 l5 `; b
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8 y+ g: Z+ Y1 R1 o! A9 S1 E% LCity officials hope some of the new affordable housing units will be ready in as soon as 18 months.) a& D+ C+ x2 ?2 y6 r) p- ^
8 H$ y/ B( C) l0 Q1 a) o0 k* `- O, UBut 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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