 鲜花( 2)  鸡蛋( 0)
|
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/edmonto ... /20/housing-ed.html
$ J7 a8 ?6 V( e) f6 v* a; x5 O$ @# w }% I7 v
Edmonton plans thousands of affordable homes
6 k0 J7 m" E8 u, b4 _' U" kLast Updated: Wednesday, June 20, 2007 | 11:02 AM MT , q; e3 F8 g' V* n X
CBC News
- I- ?$ b+ f- d, S, h! b
' [' Q( s! R( Z$ A. v4 k: }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.
: Q4 ?+ Q/ v, \/ P3 S* ?+ l# y$ g8 `& @- B' W6 D
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.0 k3 w' q. s8 R* m9 Y
) d) d, G! A+ P/ f( B5 q9 n$ `# T
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.
4 `) U k# q; C/ {2 @6 V+ ^: U4 F
- i# n3 |& V' y8 R"I'm hoping that we can really start adding to the affordable housing, transition housing and supportive housing infrastructure in our community," he said.4 b# Q9 o: w! ^6 h2 }
4 _) D0 i' u. t* q
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.; }8 M1 P2 v4 u* O+ V4 i, V
$ O7 s6 [% h5 e& N7 C3 ]
"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.
( n' y! ]7 {3 @5 u8 X9 DContinue Article
! C& O* i5 B9 u
# o/ {7 U# }4 `" Y6 n" S$ _! w, O
City officials hope some of the new affordable housing units will be ready in as soon as 18 months.2 ?9 I( y. v" _: ]9 S
1 @% J4 y7 _ H& X7 b3 ]( b% K
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.
; S8 T* o, k9 C3 Q; q2 ?7 C% s* S1 T9 b
"It's going to take time — this is not an overnight solution by any means — but I think we are making good progress." |
|