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http://www.cbc.ca/canada/edmonto ... /20/housing-ed.html
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Edmonton plans thousands of affordable homes
$ |" B/ Z; ]; ^* v+ w. qLast 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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8 o' U3 O6 s. uCam 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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2 z! \: ?" k E( V3 T1 FThe $170 million project, approved Tuesday by city council, could lighten that load by providing everything from new apartment units to basement suites and mobile homes, he said. 9 U7 c: W5 U1 s% F- X5 I
0 k0 @ V" j3 z9 O. |"I'm hoping that we can really start adding to the affordable housing, transition housing and supportive housing infrastructure in our community," he said.
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In the past, most people stayed at the YMCA for a few days or weeks until they could get established. Now they remain for months.
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$ w* b1 @) j( z ]: J/ ]"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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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.% U5 r" Y1 ?5 V# u( Y: K
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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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