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http://www.cbc.ca/canada/edmonto ... /20/housing-ed.html& g+ b. p- @, {& U
7 W @$ H' Z5 {& m" w' t8 LEdmonton plans thousands of affordable homes! f s' h' x- r. z4 @6 F
Last Updated: Wednesday, June 20, 2007 | 11:02 AM MT
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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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% [6 U* t" s% B+ h/ W3 dCam 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. [- \/ `. w+ x2 X; ~$ u
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The $170 million project, approved Tuesday by city council, could lighten that load by providing everything from new apartment units to basement suites and mobile homes, he said.
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"I'm hoping that we can really start adding to the affordable housing, transition housing and supportive housing infrastructure in our community," he said.2 ?1 H7 f+ c/ \4 L$ a4 Y) z$ y" g
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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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9 `8 n5 ]( Z1 Y) I"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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6 V% M3 W1 e) }5 `; P3 ^City officials hope some of the new affordable housing units will be ready in as soon as 18 months.
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. M8 Q+ J2 h" }2 J" y& h: iBut 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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