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http://www.cbc.ca/canada/edmonto ... /20/housing-ed.html4 K+ I, v; e0 @0 b
2 A& t; a1 W8 m3 gEdmonton plans thousands of affordable homes
; c6 y, ]1 B1 S$ e3 Y( A lLast Updated: Wednesday, June 20, 2007 | 11:02 AM MT 2 \& X$ Q: H/ z/ W9 J
CBC News 0 \7 V; j3 y4 ~5 b& X" r9 Q) |
0 ]$ i. a; N5 m: QAn 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.. E7 o; l! U4 `, J. O, [
* }3 x* n! j- t, O& TThe $170 million project, approved Tuesday by city council, could lighten that load by providing everything from new apartment units to basement suites and mobile homes, he said. 1 I' O$ P; v* }0 i6 }9 J1 D3 ^9 W
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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.7 D% C: |1 V* Z' Y& }3 a6 G$ D
2 x& I" J2 t- MIn the past, most people stayed at the YMCA for a few days or weeks until they could get established. Now they remain for months.5 {# M" h/ c1 b" `7 C k
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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.- b9 j" S. v6 r
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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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9 D5 P) p3 _8 \4 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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3 w0 l$ d" T% P6 @* T! p& E8 A c& v"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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