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http://www.cbc.ca/canada/edmonto ... /20/housing-ed.html, T7 j4 u9 I/ a& B$ O5 x
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Edmonton plans thousands of affordable homes5 z1 _# @: t9 f9 T9 |+ ]# V0 U
Last Updated: Wednesday, June 20, 2007 | 11:02 AM MT
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! R0 |$ t& a9 k- d0 N# h% ^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. \1 ^% r$ c" b# \2 v3 c% t# m, i
: q. `5 a! l+ u9 M, \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 $170 million project, approved Tuesday by city council, could lighten that load by providing everything from new apartment units to basement suites and mobile homes, he said.
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7 z. }* o0 X4 Y0 k7 ^0 ^6 N8 ^"I'm hoping that we can really start adding to the affordable housing, transition housing and supportive housing infrastructure in our community," he said.) \0 }$ z5 b: c0 U: s
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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.% t6 h1 G. P( a: O, ]/ x9 y! K
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/ }1 T( X( |2 r7 D6 N; zCity officials hope some of the new affordable housing units will be ready in as soon as 18 months.
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& z: x( ~, S& S0 bBut 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.4 n; Z; e z; G
% P2 \& t5 _! n* ]* o"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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