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http://www.cbc.ca/canada/edmonto ... /20/housing-ed.html
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% @( q, d' r9 X4 P0 y" zEdmonton plans thousands of affordable homes
7 Q0 n+ a/ }! B7 q9 L! \Last Updated: Wednesday, June 20, 2007 | 11:02 AM MT
6 @5 a. C8 C* W' n0 ]0 VCBC News
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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.# M$ I3 W! t. [/ W1 K
7 _6 b) g p. cCam 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 $170 million project, approved Tuesday by city council, could lighten that load by providing everything from new apartment units to basement suites and mobile homes, he said. * R% H" z8 k1 j' S1 v! Y* L k% y+ _
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"I'm hoping that we can really start adding to the affordable housing, transition housing and supportive housing infrastructure in our community," he said.
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% Z2 F+ d3 a- \8 i) E- hIn the past, most people stayed at the YMCA for a few days or weeks until they could get established. Now they remain for months.
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* N0 X$ e$ t9 }# Q: ?+ w; t9 Y"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.. V4 }! o; v# U& a
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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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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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"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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