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http://www.cbc.ca/canada/edmonto ... /20/housing-ed.html
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3 f& S+ I0 r' s, ^Edmonton plans thousands of affordable homes
E9 J& {4 Y* V" @ M# Y' S+ [Last Updated: Wednesday, June 20, 2007 | 11:02 AM MT # P0 i# ]: h) ]3 c# v
CBC News 8 O% m2 I1 ~% I* C% ?
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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." F8 N6 N- r% Y) u
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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.
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The $170 million project, approved Tuesday by city council, could lighten that load by providing everything from new apartment units to basement suites and mobile homes, he said. % ?& z) d, J; q5 M3 F* y$ G4 z' O
. T8 C, K, ^# [2 Y8 l5 \1 c"I'm hoping that we can really start adding to the affordable housing, transition housing and supportive housing infrastructure in our community," he said.4 d. o& y8 V& A4 Q8 A
! A0 X( L8 e! R; j" a7 v( E, KIn the past, most people stayed at the YMCA for a few days or weeks until they could get established. Now they remain for months." G1 e/ G2 D* O( }
( d1 W) N& c6 B) h) t' c( G2 {' T' p"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.
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0 t% `0 i$ X' V2 q% VCity officials hope some of the new affordable housing units will be ready in as soon as 18 months.
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; f* O, q# q! j. ?( Z/ Z* ^But 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.- J* e Z+ @5 v
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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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