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http://www.cbc.ca/canada/edmonto ... /20/housing-ed.html
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3 C+ J3 A* U# P5 L- G% OEdmonton plans thousands of affordable homes
: V5 s2 e# O9 {1 K- \5 s# T! R1 fLast Updated: Wednesday, June 20, 2007 | 11:02 AM MT
4 P* n6 q" L2 ^ R/ W& M3 X1 I( N' d3 ZCBC News
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; d0 `/ N! c7 s& e3 [; N# YAn 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.+ ~5 ^) O# @. _) j# W
7 g r9 }. t0 B: V& C8 M- VCam 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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; Q1 C; k1 S% M) g% K fThe $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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) [# R8 a9 J7 j0 v"I'm hoping that we can really start adding to the affordable housing, transition housing and supportive housing infrastructure in our community," he said.
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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.0 f E% H0 V* Y' q
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2 g- z0 Y. N+ D3 v8 g# ?, g5 KCity officials hope some of the new affordable housing units will be ready in as soon as 18 months.6 U% u: \! H& f; 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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( }: B+ B9 V5 G2 ^* m4 G" Z"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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