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http://www.cbc.ca/canada/edmonto ... /20/housing-ed.html
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Edmonton plans thousands of affordable homes
/ l& b* W# L/ Y- j2 ZLast Updated: Wednesday, June 20, 2007 | 11:02 AM MT , r8 L+ y* E" M. y: ?7 Z
CBC News ) _1 b' }$ R8 r k* z9 z
6 X- z$ b7 ^& b) I; uAn 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." O( `' c- W1 [6 c6 {/ o7 v
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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 $170 million project, approved Tuesday by city council, could lighten that load by providing everything from new apartment units to basement suites and mobile homes, he said.
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"I'm hoping that we can really start adding to the affordable housing, transition housing and supportive housing infrastructure in our community," he said.7 b5 O- |% E* p$ C
. p" ?# k9 ~- T6 cIn 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.
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) g! G; E+ x8 a3 t6 P' gCity officials hope some of the new affordable housing units will be ready in as soon as 18 months.2 O6 D7 b+ J u! n- x
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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.
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9 q7 u e/ n3 X8 ]: K+ O' K4 h"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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